Stayers’ the perfect jumping-off point to Yeats’ Grand reprise
THE Stayers’ Hurdle has emerged as an unorthodox potential stepping-stone to a third tilt at the Randox Grand National for Noble Yeats.
The Emmet Mullins-trained eight-year-old won the world’s most famous steeplechase at Aintree in 2022 and finished fourth in both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and when defending his Grand National crown last season.
Making his first appearance since the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris in May, Noble Yeats reverted to the smaller obstacles at Limerick over the festive period — and while beaten by Sa Majeste as the 10-11 favourite, his owner Robert Waley-Cohen was satisfied with the performance.
‘It was a very good first run of the season,’ he said.
‘I don’t think he really likes that very heavy going as it was at Limerick, but we had to start somewhere and hopefully we’ll get some better ground later in the year.’
Connections decided against entering Noble Yeats for the Gold Cup this time around, but Waley-Cohen has raised the intriguing possibility of him turning up in another major event at the Cheltenham Festival.
He added: ‘We’re going to enter for the Stayers’ Hurdle — if you don’t enter you can’t decide whether to go for it when the time comes.
‘His main target for the year is still the Grand National. The Gold Cup is a tough race and the Grand National is a tough race and I think winning both in the same year is nigh on impossible.
‘He was fourth in both last year, which was a fantastic performance, but I’d be more excited about winning one than being fourth in two!
‘I don’t think he’s going to win a Gold Cup. He’s a 166rated horse, the average Gold Cup winner is probably 175 and the very good ones might be closer to 180.’
Whether Noble Yeats runs over hurdles or fences on his next start remains to be seen, with Waley-Cohen keen to keep all options open.
He said: ‘If you want a chase where you require a lot of stamina you could look at the Cotswold Chase, in which he finished third last season.
‘Let’s wait and see, but everything is being geared towards getting to the Grand National in first-class order to give ourselves the best possible chance.’
Meanwhile, Joseph O’Brien is looking forward to seeing Banbridge make his belated reappearance in the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton on Saturday.