Having secured the inaugural David Power Jockeys’ Cup title on Thursday, Harry Skelton had a quieter day on Friday, only picking up points with Melling Chase runner-up Protektorat.

Harry Cobden secured second spot with a first-race win on Caldwell Potter, while Impose Toi’s fourth in the following handicap meant Nico de Boinville was confirmed in third ahead of Sam Twiston-Davies.

Further down the leaderboard, good afternoons for Paul Townend and Mark Walsh meant they moved up the standings, with Townend finishing the competition in a tie for 10th with Brendan Powell. Walsh was 14th.

Jonjo O’Neill‘s fourth-placed finish on Mister Meggit in the final race of the competition – which came after an earlier win for Wellington Arch in the handicap hurdle – ensured that he leap-frogged both Ben Jones and Charlie Deutsch into seventh position.

The £25,000 prize for leading conditional went to Dylan Johnston after Patrick Wadge was unable to bridge the gap. Wadge was eventually third behind Caoilin Quinn.

 

position	name	points
1	Harry Skelton	420
2	Harry Cobden	330
3	Nico de Boinville	316
4	Sam Twiston-Davies	266
5	Sean Bowen	234
6	Gavin Sheehan	198
7	Jonjo O’Neill Jr.	154
8	Ben Jones	152
8	Charlie Deutsch	152
10	Paul Townend	140
10	Brendan Powell	140
12	Jonathan Burke	134
13	Tom Cannon	116
14	Mark Walsh	98
15	Bryan Carver	94
16	Brian Hughes	84
17	Danny McMenamin	82
17	Dylan Johnston	82
19	Jack Tudor	80
20	Caoilin Quinn	74
21	Patrick Wadge	68
21	James Bowen	68
21	Freddie Gingell	68
21	Darragh O’Keeffe	68
25	Keith Donoghue	64
25	Rex Dingle	64
27	Charlie Hammond	60
27	Tom Bellamy	60
29	Kielan Woods	58
30	Michael Nolan	52
30	J J Slevin	52
32	Freddie Mitchell	50
32	Danny Gilligan	50
34	Danny Mullins	48
34	Adam Wedge	48
34	David Noonan	48
37	Derek Fox	46
37	Rachael Blackmore	46
39	James Best	44
39	Kevin Brogan	44
41	Lorcan Williams	42
42	Tristan Durrell	40
42	Jack Kennedy	40
44	Sean Quinlan	38
44	Paul O’Brien	38
44	Sean Flanagan	38
44	Freddie Gordon	38
44	Richie McLernon	38
49	Nick Slatter	34
49	Ned Fox	34
49	David Bass	34

Harry Skelton was crowned the inaugural winner of the David Power Jockeys’ Cup after the opening race at Aintree on Thursday.

As the inaugural David Power Jockeys’ Cup concludes on Friday – with Harry Skelton in pole position to take home the £500,000 top prize – we take a look at the mounts of the leading riders on day two of Aintree’s Randox Grand National Festival with a possible 50 points up for grabs on the final day of the competition.   

Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices’ Chase 

Ben Jones will be confident of moving up the leaderboard with Handstands, however Harry Cobden will be hopeful of getting off on the right foot with Caldwell Potter who looked a different horse under positive tactics when winning at the Cheltenham Festival last month. He steps up in trip/out of handicap company here which should suit and Cobden can make up ground on Harry Skelton who doesn’t have a ride in the race. 

William Hill Handicap Hurdle 

Be Aware (Harry Skelton) was very well-fancied when only eighth at Cheltenham last month and still has something to prove in terms of this longer trip, unlike the mount of Nico de Boinville – Impose Toi – who was second in that Coral Cup and is building up a good profile of handicap performances. Despite a 4 lb rise, he is preferred of the pair. 

TrustATrader Top Novices’ Hurdle 

It’s no formality given the way that his mount Royal Infantry disappointed when last seen at Haydock in January, but Harry Skelton could extend his lead over his three closest rivals who don’t have rides in the race. Royal Infantry was always well-thought-of and has had a wind operation since his last run, so could pick up some place points for all the top three in the betting look pretty solid. 

My Pension Expert Melling Chase 

Just the four runners for the Melling this year, meaning points for Nico de Boinville and Harry Skelton are assured if they get their mounts – Jonbon and Protektorat – around without mishap. Last year’s winner Jonbon tried his best to get rid of his rider with a bad mistake at the ninth in the Champion Chase, but the way he rallied for second suggests that he should be very hard to beat now away from Cheltenham once more. Protektorat kept on for third in this last season and isn’t taken lightly, but he’s probably battling for second at best. 

Randox Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Topham Handicap Chase 

Irish runners dominate the betting here, so whilst Paul Townend might lead a late charge up the leaderboard from his lowly starting point, the leading Jockeys’ Cup contenders might be playing for points from placed efforts. This sort of test should suit Harry Cobden’s front-running mount Ginny’s Destiny, who tries cheekpieces for the first time, while Sam Twiston-Davies has his first ride of the day on Huntingdon specialist Lounge Lizard. Excello’s (Nico de Boinville) form is solid if unspectacular so first-time cheekpieces will need to spark some improvement if he is to feature prominently. 

Oddschecker Sefton Novices’ Hurdle 

“So, you’re telling me there’s a chance?” said Lloyd Christmas in Dumb And Dumber. Although it’s very unlikely given the magnitude of Harry Skelton’s lead at the start of this week, there could be a scenario in which he is cursing his agent from the sidelines as he doesn’t have a ride in this closing race in the 2024/25 David Power Jockeys’ Cup. Luckily for Skelton, however, neither does his closest rival Harry Cobden. Instead, Nico de Boinville looks in pole position to pick up the most points with recent Huntingdon winner Califet En Vol who represents the Nicky Henderson yard that won this race in 2018 with Santini and 2019 with Champ. Sam Twiston-Davies rides Ayr scorer Crest of Fortune who swaps blinkers for a tongue-tie as he steps up in class. 

Verdict 

Nico de Boinville looks best placed to pick up the most points on the final day of the 2024/25 David Power Jockeys’ Cup, but it won’t be enough to see him peg back leader Harry Skelton who should have little to worry about. He could, however, increase his share of the prize fund by a cool £100,000 by pipping Harry Cobden to second spot which would be a fine achievement given he has had easily the fewest number of rides of the top four riders in the standings. 

As the inaugural David Power Jockeys’ Cup draws to an end – with Harry Skelton in pole position to take home the £500,000 top prize – we take a look at the mounts of the leading riders on day one of Aintree’s Randox Grand National Festival with a possible 50 points up for grabs. 

1.45 – Ebc Group Manifesto Novices’ Chase 

Nico de Boinville rides Jango Baie who was second in a handicap hurdle at this meeting 12 months ago and has readily bettered that form over fences this term, staying on from an unpromising position to land the Arkle in the dying strides last month. This is a quick turnaround, but the longer trip will suit and he has leading claims of seeing off Leopardstown Grade 1 one-two Croke Park and Impaire Et Passe, who represents last year’s winning trainer/jockey combo. This flat track will suit Harry Cobden’s mount Rubaud, who beat Harry Skelton’s Boombawn last time, but both look up against it in this stronger race. 

2.25 – Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle 

A much bigger field than has often been the case in this juvenile contest, with Harry Skelton’s Live Conti heading the market having been saved for this race since impressing at Wetherby in February. He faces much tougher opposition here, however, including a formidable pair from the stable of Joseph O’Brien, led by Fred Winter winner Puturhandstogether. Harry Cobden rides outsider Aviemore who has been progressing well at a low level. He was a classy sort on the Flat so may have more to offer, though his best form has come on softer ground. 

2.55 – Brooklands Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl Chase   

Grey Dawning is the best ride of the day for Jockeys’ Cup leader Harry Skelton. Though a beaten favourite at this meeting last year, the striking grey looked back to his best when successful at Kelso last month and deliberately skipped Cheltenham in favour of this assignment. The Harry Cobden-ridden Stage Star ran well when upped to this sort of trip when second to L’Homme Presse at Cheltenham in January and this venue could suit his bold-jumping front-running style. 

3.30 – William Hill Aintree Hurdle 

Easily the biggest race of the day for Nico de Boinville, who will be hoping that Constitution Hill can silence the doubters after his untimely fall in the Champion Hurdle last month. He won this race two years ago and with a clear round of jumping should have enough in hand to see off Lossiemouth, as he did over two miles at Kempton in December. Progressive handicapper Wodhooh looks next best, ahead of Take No Chances (Harry Skelton) who was nearly 10 lengths behind Lossiemouth in the Mares’ Hurdle last time out. 

4.40 – Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase 

Sans Bruit made all in this race 12 months ago from the same handicap mark and although Bryony Frost is staying in France rather than returning for the ride, Harry Cobden will have his eyes on repeating the feat. The strong-travelling Calico (Harry Skelton) should relish the good ground and likely strong pace, while Sam Twiston-Davies‘ sole ITV ride of the day comes on the progressive Rah Gaul Hill who has impressed this season. If he handles the quicker ground, then a big performance looks on the cards off his feather weight. 

Verdict

Though Nico de Boinville has arguably the best chance of the day on Constitution Hill, Harry Skelton and Harry Cobden both look to have much stronger books of rides – the story of the competition so far, really. Marginal preference is for Skelton who should pick up more placed points than his rival and he is fancied to all-but-secure the David Power Jockeys’ Cup title.