Harry Cobden can get life with JP McManus off to perfect start at Wexford

The task facing the Willie Mullins-trained Karoline Banbou at Wexford looks considerably easier than her three previous chase runs

Thu, 07 May, 2026 - 06:33

Darren Norris

A new era begins at Wexford on Thursday and Harry Cobden can make the perfect start to life as JP McManus’s retained jockey by partnering Karoline Banbou to victory in the opening race of the evening, the Wexfordraces.ie Beginners Chase.

Cobden’s sole ride of the day, Karoline Banbou proved costly to support in the jumps season just ended, finding one too good in two trips to Fairyhouse either side of Christmas before taking a tired fall when beaten after being sent off an 8-11 favourite at Leopardstown in March.

However, the task facing the Willie Mullins-trained mare here looks considerably easier those three previous chase runs and, providing she's none the worse for her Leopardstown mishap, she should make it third time lucky.

Farfromnowhere faded late on in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when last seen but there was encouragement to be taken from two runs over fences before that.

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The Paul Nolan-trained mare looks the biggest threat to the selection but it’ll be a disappointment if Karoline Banbou fluffs her lines again.

Later on the card, the Purple And Gold Beginners Chase sees Hiddenvalley Lake tackle fences for the first time in 880 days and the Henry De Bromhead-trained nine-year-old ought to have too much class for his five rivals.

A faller at Navan on his only previous chase start way back in December 2023, Hiddenvalley Lake claimed a Grade One success over hurdles at Aintree 13 months’ ago and ran reasonably well when fifth to Home By The Lee in the same race last month. A repeat of that run should suffice in this company.

Charles and Philip Byrnes can strike in the Visitwexford.ie Handicap Chase with recent Limerick runner-up Let Him B fancied to go one place better.

Come On The Lads got off the mark over fences when scoring at Limerick at the end of March and the Gavin Cromwell-trained six-year-old is fancied to follow up in the Wexford Town Handicap Chase.

WEXFORD

5.02 Karoline Banbou (NB)

5.35 Let Him B

6.08 Come On The Lads

6.38 Hiddenvalley Lake (Nap)

7.08 Kiwi De Cotte

7.38 Wilton Mills Trier

8.08 Fortysixnchange

Next best

5.02 Farfromnowhere

5.35 Soldante

6.08 Captain Conby