At the beginning of the 2015/16 season, Cobden became
conditional jockey to
Paul Nicholls at
Ditcheat in Somerset. He had been riding out for Nicholls in the summers since he was 13. He achieved his first Grade success in November 2015, when Old Guard won the Grade 3
Greatwood Hurdle for Nicholls. Irving, trained by Nicholls, provided him with his first Grade 1 victory when he won the
Fighting Fifth Hurdle in November 2016. In 2018/19, his first full season riding as stable jockey for Nicholls, he achieved four Grade 1 victories for the trainer, including the
King George VI Chase on
Clan des Obeaux. In January 2026 Cobden was named as
J. P. McManus's retained jockey in Britain and Ireland, with the role beginning in May 2026. == Life outside racing ==