Noble Yeats Stakes Stayers Hurdle Claims With Grade 2 Win

Noble Yeats (9g Yeats – That’s Moyne, by Flemensfirth) returned to winning ways when staying on strongly in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Emmet Mullins’ Grand National hero drew clear on his hurdle debut as a six-year-old, and after landing three black-type chases, returned to hurdling last month when finishing second. Racing over three miles on Saturday, he was pushed along behind the leaders as they turned for home and leapt into second at the final flight. Staying on strongly, he led on the run-in and kept on well to deny the 2020 and 2022 victor Paisley Park (Oscar) by a head.

The performance saw bookmakers halve Noble Yeats’ price for the Grade 1 Stayers Hurdle at the Festival, on which owner Robert Waley-Cohen said, “It is the only race we are entered in at the festival and it has to be a serious consideration. It will be fun to have a crack at it and it is a much less tough race than the Gold Cup and a more suitable prep for the Grand National.”

The now seven-time winner was bred by Mrs Kristene Hunter.