Bowen blow leads to Cobden picking up Palladium ride in Triumph

Nicky Henderson expressed his sympathy for James Bowen after confirming Harry Cobden will come in for the ride on Palladium at the Cheltenham Festival next week.

Bowen failed in his appeal to overturn a seven-day whip ban handed out after a recent win at Hereford, meaning he will be suspended during the Festival and miss out on partnering the high-class German Derby winner, whom he rode in a recent gallop at Kempton.

It means Cobden picks up the ride on Palladium in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, with the champion jockey getting acquainted with Lady Bamford’s €1.4million purchase – who made his jumping bow at Huntingdon in January – in a schooling session at Seven Barrows on Wednesday morning.

Although pleased to have secured the services of Cobden, Henderson’s thoughts were primarily with Bowen, who is a key member of the Seven Barrows team as second jockey to Nico de Boinville.

Henderson said: “I’m very sympathetic for James, but the plan is for Harry to ride Palladium and the others are all sorted down the line.

“We had to anticipate what might happen and unfortunately it has happened and James can’t ride. It’s a dreadful shame for James and the timing is horrible, you just feel very sorry for him.

“It’s great to have Harry, there are a load of good guys but he’s been in, they schooled very well together and it’s all systems go.”