Cobden hopes to 'inspire' new generation of fans
Jump jockey champion Harry Cobden said he hopes to help "inspire" the next generation ahead of this week's Cheltenham Festival. Cobden became only the eighth rider to win the championship since the 1980-81 season when he clinched the title on the eve of the final meeting last April. The 26-year-old was speaking on a visit to his former primary school in Yeovil."When you go racing now it's typically an older generation, so if you can come here and inspire the next generation to possibly go racing then it's only a good thing," Cobden told BBC Points West.The 26-year-old is fourth in the current jump jockey championship standings, with 89 wins. Last year's runner-up Sean Bowen leads the way on 150.Cobden said he would love to win the title again despite describing it as the most "difficult" thing he has done in his career so far."Since I got a licence, being champion jockey was something I always wanted to do at some stage of my career," he added."It was probably the most difficult thing I've done in racing in terms of the amount of rides you have, the amount of hours you have to sit in the car, you need a great team around you to make it all happen. "It's something I've done once, I'd love to do it again, but you need to be in the right position for all that pressure, and the most important thing is to stay injury free."
Somerset-born Cobden works with trainer Paul Nicholls and has seen demands for his time, including sponsorship and media appearances, increase since winning the championship last spring. He is set for a busy Cheltenham Festival, but Bowen will miss the week after losing an appeal against a seven-day suspension handed to him by the whip review committee.Cobden is also second overall in the new David Power Jockeys' Cup competition, introduced this season for televised races only, which offers a prize pot of £500,000 to the winner. "If I can finish in the top three I'd be really happy. I still haven't taken my foot off the gas, and obviously first prize is what everyone wants to win, isn't it," he said.
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