12 April 2023 , 16:46
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Harry Cobden has been recruited by Gordon Elliott to join his team for this year's Grand National.
The top jockey will ride Coko Beach, one of six runners the trainer is sending to Aintree's world famous event. Priced at 33-1 with William Hill, the grey finished eighth last year behind Noble Yeats.
Emmet Mullins' 50-1 shot was the fourth Irish-trained winner in a row – a sequence started by Elliott's Tiger Roll in 2018. The chaser made history the following year, when he became the first runner to take back-to-back renewals since 1974.
Cobden, who finished 15th on Lostintranslation 12 months ago, was free for a spare in the big race as his boss Paul Nicholls does not have any entries.
The rider's agent Sam Stronge said: "We spoke to Gordon a couple of weeks ago and had Harry on standby. You wouldn't want a top jockey like him left in the weighing room for a race like the Grand National.
Harry Cobden says winning Cheltenham ride on Il Ridoto did not deserve ban
"He has had a great season, Paul's horses have been in form all year round. Coko Beach is a nice spare ride to pick up, fingers crossed he can run a solid race."
The eight-year-old was last seen winning the QuinnBet Grand National Trial at Punchestown in February. Leading home a one-two-three for owners Gigginstown House Stud, run by Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary, Coko Beach pulled clear of Death Duty by five-and-a-half lengths.
Elliott's shortest-priced National horse, Delta Work, is challenging Corach Rambler for favouritism with the bookmakers. The mount of Keith Donoghue is into 8-1, just a point longer than Lucinda Russell's dual Ultima Chase scorer.
Elliott confirmed Davy Russell for Galvin, while Jonjo O'Neill junior teams up with Fury Road and Adrian Heskin partners Escaria Ten. Dunboyne, the final member of the team, is the mount of Jack Tudor.
Derek Fox, due to ride Corach Rambler, expects to overcome a late injury scare – just like he did in 2017 before winning on One For Arthur for the same stable.
“I got a fall at Wetherby and I banged my shoulder – it was just a wee bit sore but it will be 100 per cent by Saturday," he said.