Noble Yeats Makes Dreams Come True In Aintree Grand National

Noble Yeats (7g Yeats - That’s Moyne, by Flemensfirth) provided Emmet Mullins and the Waley-Cohen family with a day they will never forget when landing Saturday’s Aintree Grand National.

Robert Waley-Cohen purchased the novice privately in February, and with son Sam recently revealing that the National would be his last ride, there was added pressure on Mullins’ charge. He qualified for the race when finishing second to Ahoy Senor (Dylan Thomas) in a Grade 2 chase and the winner boosted the form with a smart Grade 1 success in Friday’s Mildmay Novices’ Chase.

Noble Yeats jumped well throughout the jewel in national hunt racing’s crown, and as his trainer put it, “in the last circuit, everything seemed to fall into place.” The bay disputed the lead from the second last, and though headed at the final fence, rallied to regain the advantage on the run-in and stayed on well to score by two and a quarter lengths. Market leader Any Second Now (Oscar) finished a very honourable second, having claimed third in last year’s running.

The elated winning rider later commented, “This could be a moment I wake up from. It really could not be better and it couldn't be any sweeter.” Mullins echoed Waley-Cohen’s sentiments, saying, “This is just the stuff of dreams. I just can't believe it.”

Adding to the impressive achievement of Noble Yeats’ Grand National victory is that the son of Yeats gained his maiden victory just last year, when taking a bumper by 19 lengths. He went on to win his hurdle debut in fine style and made a successful start over fences in October. Bred by Mrs Kirstene Hunter, the progressive star joined the Mullins team after a narrow defeat on debut for Donal Hassett in a four-year-old maiden at Ballindenisk.

Yeats has enjoyed a terrific season and looks set to secure his first sires’ championship thanks to the Grand National prize of £500,000.