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. 

Sean Bowen may lead Harry Skelton by 27 in the race to be this season’s British Champion jump jockey, but the Welsh rider is a long way back in his bid to pick up as much prize money as possible in the inaugural David Power Jockeys’ Cup which concludes after the second day of action at Aintree’s Randox Grand National Festival. 

Skelton is clear at the top of the leaderboard on 378 points and – with Flat racing back in the spotlight this weekend – is guaranteed to be 74 clear of Harry Cobden when the ITV cameras roll into Liverpool on Thursday. 

Can Cobden catch the runaway leader with a strong start to the Aintree meeting and pinch the £500,000 top prize from under Skelton’s nose? It’s not impossible, especially given the success that the yard of Paul Nicholls has had there over the years, but it looks a tough task. 

We will take a closer look at their mounts after declarations have been made. 

The chase is afoot!

Nico de Boinville has actually ridden more winners in the Jockeys’ Cup than Skelton, but the Seven Barrows stable jockey has failed to add as many points from placed efforts – indeed, he is still yet to finish third in an ITV race this season! 

De Boinville is on 296 points, just eight behind Cobden but 36 clear of current fourth-placed Sam Twiston-Davies who has ridden the same number of winners (eight) as fifth-placed Bowen (222 points) and sixth-placed Gavin Sheehan (188). 

Ben Jones and Charlie Deutsch are both on 152 points, with identical records of 10 wins, three runner-up efforts, four thirds, and one fourth-placed finish apiece. 

Who will come out on top at Aintree and claim bragging rights ahead of next season? Or will Jonjo O’Neill enjoy more success in Liverpool and make up the 12-point deficit on both? 

If he can leapfrog them – from ninth to seventh – then his share of the prize money would jump from £20,000 to £40,000, with the amount going to the O’Neill stable staff also doubling, as it would for his trainer/father Jonjo O’Neill Snr – that’s one way to get in the good books! 

Titanic tussle in conditional riders’ race

In the Jockeys’ Cup race to be leading conditional jockey – which comes with an added prize of £25,000 – Dylan Johnston is on 82 points, 12 clear of Caoilin Quinn who has seen his buffer on those behind shorten significantly in recent weeks. Freddie Gingell (68) and Patrick Wadge (64) are well within striking range as they eye up the top prize, with the £5,000 on offer for the second-best conditional fair consolation. 

Whatever happens on the final two days of action – Thursday 3 April and Friday 4 April – in the 2024/25 David Power Jockeys’ Cup, there will no doubt be plenty of drama and captivating stories on Merseyside. 

Patrick Wadge enjoyed day two of the Ladbrokes Go North series finals as a win on Starlyte and a runner-up finish on Your Own Story secured the young Scottish rider 18 points. As a result, he jumped up the David Power Jockeys’ Cup leaderboard into a share of 24th position on 64 points, and is now just 18 behind leading conditional rider Dylan Johnston (82 points) as both chase the top prize for leading conditional.

Other jockeys to enjoy success at Kelso included Danny McMenamin (14 points) and Brian Hughes (10).

At the top of the standings, Nico de Boinville enjoyed a fruitful afternoon at Newbury with a win for Bhaloo and a runner-up finish for the same connections’ La Pinsonniere securing a return of 18 points. Leader Harry Skelton, meanwhile, endured a rare blank afternoon in front of the ITV cameras.

Jonathan Burke rode Siog Geal to success in the race that La Pinsonniere was second in, the Grade 2 BetVictor British EBF “National Hunt” Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, while Harry Cobden and Sam Twiston-Davies both came away from the Berkshire track with four points apiece. 

The sole ITV race at Bangor on Saturday afternoon went the way of the Sean Bowen-ridden The Four Sixes. 

On this week’s Paddy Power Media’s ‘Harry Cobden Cheltenham Review’, the top rider joined host Patrick Kennelly with the topics including the David Power Jockeys’ Cup. 

Cobden is currently 78 points behind leader Harry Skelton and acknowledges the tough challenge that he is facing, but is determined to give it his all in the final few weeks left of the competition which finishes on Friday 4th April. 

Cobden said: “The bird looks to have flown, but never say never. I remember I went to Sandown one day and I had six rides – all of them won and I got off the wrong one, I rode the wrong one in another race there and that finished second. 

“So you never know – I have to ride eight winners and he [Skelton] has to ride none for me to beat him. It could happen but I’d say the chance of that happening are very, very slim. 

“So my target now is to fend old Nico [De Boinville] off and Sam Twiston-Davies for the 200 grand for the second place.” 

As well as picking up prize money for himself, Cobden’s finish will determine how much prize money goes to the trainer who provides the most rides to the jockey, as well as the stable staff. In Cobden’s case, that will be Paul Nicholls’ Ditcheat yard. 

Cobden added: “I’ve been trying to ride in every ITV race and I remember one day, I probably could have ridden four winners at Taunton and I went to Ascot for one ride for Paul, in an ITV race, ended up finishing second.  

“It’s been on our mind all season so it’s certainly not through lack of trying anyway.  

“When I was in contention of actually winning it, they were getting excited about the 50 grand, but it’s not quite as exciting at the moment.” 

Nico De Boinville went some way to putting a disappointing Cheltenham Festival behind him when picking up 18 David Power Jockeys’ Cup on Saturday, but his total was matched by Jockeys’ Cup leader Harry Skelton and surpassed by two points by second-placed Harry Cobden who were both in action at Uttoxeter. 

The Seven Barrows jockey would have expected more success at Prestbury Park, with Constitution Hill and Jonbon two notable losses, but he picked up valuable points on Saturday thanks mainly to a win for Aston Martini in the Kempton handicap hurdle shown on ITV. 

Other notable winners at the Sunbury-on-Thames venue included Ben Jones, who took the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase on the rejuvenated Bad and also picked up 18 points in total. He is now level with Charlie Deutsch on 152 points.

Over at Uttoxeter, the feature JenningsBet Midlands Grand National went the way of the Jack Tudor-ridden Mr Vango, a horse that De Boinville had ridden to win at Sandown earlier in the season. Tudor remains in 16th spot.

Other jockeys to enjoy their afternoon in the Midlands included Skelton, though he couldn’t match the 22-point haul of the chasing Cobden who added placed efforts on Isaac Des Obeaux and Below The Radar to the earlier win of Red Risk. 

Red Risk had looked held in second once headed by the Skelton-ridden Joyeaux Machin, but he rallied well as the leader idled and managed to get back up for a neck success. 

 

A whopping 32-point haul meant Paul Townend moved up to 13th in the David Power Jockeys’ Cup thanks to two wins and two places on Friday, though he was almost matched on the day by fellow Irish rider Mark Walsh who picked up two wins himself including the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Inothewayurthinkin. 

Walsh’s other win came aboard Dinoblue in the Mares’ Chase, while Townend’s two victories came on the well-fancied Kargese in the County Hurdle and Jasmin De Vaux in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.  

Walsh was unable to steer Galopin Des Champs to a third straight Gold Cup win, with the Willie Mullins-trained runner eventually well-held in second. 

Darragh O’Keeffe also flew the flag well for Ireland, picking up place points with The Big Westerner (second in the Albert Bartlett) and Gentlemansgame (third in the Gold Cup) which earned him a place inside the top 20. 

Meanwhile, Nico De Boinville did best of those towards the top of the Jockeys’ Cup leaderboard, taking home eight points on Triumph Hurdle runner-up Lulamba who only found 100/1 shot Poniros too good in Friday’s opener. 

Nico De Boinville moved up from fourth to third in the race to be the David Power Jockeys’ Cup champion on Thursday thanks to a runner-up effort on Jeriko Du Reponet in the Pertemps Final, won by his stablemate Doddiethgreat. 

Those eight points were enough to see the Seven Barrows jockey overtake Sam Twiston-Davies, though it still leaves him trailing second-placed Harry Cobden – who picked up 10 points on the day thanks to first-race winner Caldwell Potter – by 28 points. 

Cobden, in turn, trails Jockeys’ Cup leader Harry Skelton by 80 points after the leader picked up 10 points on day three of the Cheltenham Festival thanks to placed efforts for Catch Him Derry, who was third in the Pertemps, and  Protektorat, who was fourth in the Ryanair Chase.