In a scratch match on 25 June 1850 the younger Cole was beaten by A Chitty for £25 a side over the Championship Course, that is on the Thames between Putney and Mortlake.
By this stage Coombes was about forty-four years old and past his prime and although he put a gallant fight to lose by only half a length, the much younger Cole took the prize.
Cole’s final Title match was against James Messenger which was raced on 20 November 1854 on the usual Championship Course with a stake of £200 a side.
Cole took the early lead and retained it to the Crab Tree at which point Messenger began to gradually overhaul him.
By Hammersmith Bridge Messenger had obtained a good lead which he maintained with ease to the finish.