Harry Cobden’s Planet Sport Bet blog: Makin’yourmindup has a great chance at Newbury

Harry Cobden
9 February 2024

Harry Cobden celebrates a win during the 2019 Randox Health Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse

Planet Sport Bet ambassador Harry Cobden is back to discuss his five rides at Newbury on Saturday, February 10 as well as the battle for the Jockey's Championship.

Jockeys' Championship

I’ve virtually closed the gap on Sean Bowen now which is a very pleasant surprise. I’ve always been hopeful I could get past him but I didn’t ever think I’d do it as quickly as I have.

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve ridden lots of winners and there haven’t been many days when I haven’t ridden at least one which has really helped my cause.

I’m obviously very lucky to ride for Paul [Nicholls], but to have had support from so many other trainers has been invaluable.

It’s good Sean is back from his injury now and hopefully we’ll have a right battle till the final day.

12:55 (Newbury) Fourtowns

I’m off to Newbury on Saturday and start with Fourtowns. He’s a horse I don’t know too much about but didn’t run too badly in three bumpers and now goes over hurdles for the first time.

I spoke to Kielan Woods on Thursday and he was quite sweet on him, so hopefully he’s right!

It’s a competitive race and if he can finish in the first four, he’ll have done really well.

14:05 (Newbury) Hitman

If Hitman could bounce back to his Ryanair form in the Denman Chase, he’d have a good shout.

He’s been a bit disappointing since so we’ll probably drop him in and ride him to come home the best.

I’m hoping he’ll come on from the run at Cheltenham and be competitive.

I’m not saying he’s going to give Shishkin a fright, but if he can put in a career best, he’s not without a shout.

15:15 (Newbury) Ito Ditto

I was due to ride Tellherthename in the Betfair Hurdle but he’s come out as a result of the ground. I’m now on Nicky Richards’ Ito Ditto, who could go nicely.

He’s run very well on all three starts this season and you had to be impressed with the way he won at Chepstow last time on what was very soft ground.

He’s gone up 10 pounds for that, but he seems a different horse this year and he looks to have an each-way chance in conditions that will be in his favour.

15:50 (Newbury) Makin'yourmindup

Makin’yourmindup is a lovely horse and going back left-handed is a big positive for him.

He’ll handle the ground and if we do get more rain that won’t be an issue.

He jumped well on his last couple of chase starts and he looks to have a great chance in this.

16:25 (Newbury) Histrionic

My final ride is Histrionic in the bumper. He’s another nice bumper horse and we probably just got there a bit early last time over course and distance on really bad ground.

Paul Nicholls’ other runner, Roman Roy, is a nice horse too and I thought he ran in a pretty strong bumper last time, so we look to have two nice chances.