Harry Cobden paid a tribute to his late colleague, Keagan Kirkby, as he rode Fire Flyer to a triumphant victory for the second time within a week at Taunton on Tuesday.
Kirkby, a cherished member of Paul Nicholls' esteemed team at Ditcheat and a talented point-to-point rider, tragically lost his life following a fall at the Charing point-to-point event in Kent on Sunday.
Cobden, who had achieved an impressive four wins for Nicholls at Musselburgh earlier that same day, made a poignant return to the track after the heartbreaking loss. He partnered with Fire Flyer in division two of the Racing TV Club Day Novices' Hurdle at Taunton, where jockeys paid their respects with a minute's silence and wore solemn black armbands.
Fire Flyer, a six-year-old horse, had displayed promise in previous races, finishing second to Brechin Castle in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham and narrowly missing out on victory during his hurdling debut at Newbury, where he chased the exciting Gidleigh Park. Just five days before his latest race, Fire Flyer triumphed at Wincanton, defying odds of 2-13. Despite being the 5-6 favourite, Fire Flyer faced strong competition from Secret Squirrel throughout the race, making the victory hard-fought. Nevertheless, Fire Flyer managed to assert his dominance in the final moments, winning by a neck.
“Paul had his mind made up that he wanted to get him out quickly because he wanted to give him the four weeks to the EBF Final from today,” stated Cobden.
“I’d just like to say a special word for Keagan Kirkby because he rode that horse every day, so that was for him. He deserved that”.
In light of Kirkby's tragic passing, both the British Horseracing Authority and Point-to-Point Authority committed to conducting a comprehensive review. The aim is to glean any possible insights and lessons from this heartbreaking incident, ensuring the safety and well-being of all riders in the future.