Noble Yeats
Racing silks of Robert Waley-Cohen
SireYeats
GrandsireSadler's Wells
DamThat's Moyne
DamsireFlemensfirth
SexGelding
Foaled16 May 2015
CountryIreland
ColourBay
BreederKristene Hunter
OwnerRobert Waley-Cohen
TrainerEmmet Mullins
Record18:6-1-2
Earnings£699,822
Major wins
Grand National (2022)
M.W. Hickey Memorial Chase (2022)
Many Clouds Chase (2022)
Last updated on 5 December 2022

Noble Yeats (foaled 16 May 2015) is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt racing. In 2022 he won the Grand National under Sam Waley-Cohen, becoming the first seven year old horse to win the race since Bogskar in 1940.[1][2]

Background

Noble Yeats is a bay gelding bred by Kristene Hunter in Ireland. His sire is Coolmore stallion Yeats, winner of the Ascot Gold Cup in four consecutive years (2006 to 2009) and his dam is That's Moyne, a winner over hurdles. He was sold as a three-year-old in August 2018 to trainer Donal Hassett for €6,500. He made his racecourse debut on 1 December 2019, coming second in a point-to-point, and later that month was sold for £75,000.[3]

2020/21 season

New owner Paul Byrne put Noble Yeats into training with Emmet Mullins. In December 2020 he came third in his first bumper (National Hunt flat race). The following month he secured his first victory, winning a bumper at Thurles. After another bumper, where he came sixth, he was raced over hurdles for the first time. Ridden by Brian Hayes, he started at odds-on favourite in a maiden at Navan and won by twelve lengths.[4]

2021/22 season

After a summer break of seven months, Noble Yeats ran in his first chase and won by a head. After this victory in a beginners' chase at Galway, his owner and trainer decided to enter him for the Grand National.[5] Noble Yeats then ran in two Grade 3 races and two handicaps in Ireland, without being placed in the first three.[4] On 5 February 2022 he had his first race in England, the Grade 2 Towton Novices' Chase at Wetherby Racecourse. He came second of four runners, beaten 5½ lengths by favourite Ahoy Senor.[4] Later that month he was bought by Robert Waley-Cohen as a Grand National ride for his son, amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen.[5] Noble Yeats remained in training with Mullins and his next outing was at the Cheltenham Festival where, ridden by Waley-Cohen, he came ninth of 24 runners in the Grade 3 Festival Trophy Handicap Chase.[4]

On 9 April 2022 Noble Yeats, still technically a novice chaser, went off in the Grand National at odds of 50/1. Waley-Cohen had previously announced that it would be his final ride. For the first circuit, Waley-Cohen kept Noble Yeats at the back of the field, moving up to mid-field for the second circuit. Approaching the last, Noble Yeats was level with favourite Any Second Now. He took the lead on the run-in and finished ahead by 2¼ lengths. After the race Waley-Cohen was given a nine-day suspension and £400 fine for his use of the whip in the finish. Noble Yeats was the first seven-year-old to win the Grand National since Bogskar in 1940 and Waley-Cohen was the first amateur jockey to win the race since Marcus Armytage won on Mr Frisk in 1990.[2] He was led into the winner's enclosure at Aintree by groom Mick Molloy. The day after the race he returned home to Leighlinbridge and a celebratory parade with his owner, jockey and trainer.[6]

Grand National record

Grand National Position Jockey Age Weight SP Distance
2022 1st Sam Waley-Cohen 7 10-10 50-1 Won by 2¼ lengths
2023 4th Sean Bowen 8 11-11 10-1 8½ lengths

Pedigree

Pedigree of Noble Yeats (IRE), bay gelding, 2015[7]
Sire
Yeats (IRE)
2001		 Sadler's Wells
1981		 Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Fairy Bridge Bold Reason
Special
Lyndonville
1988		 Top Ville High Top
Sega Ville
Diamond Land Sparkler I
Canaan
Dam
That's Moyne (IRE)
2000		 Flemensfirth
1992		 Alleged Hoist The Flag
Princess Pout
Etheldreda Diesis
Royal Bund
It's Mine
1991		 Yashgan Hot Grove
Val Divine
Your Mine Push On
Leebrook Lass

References

  1. ↑ "Grand National 2022: Noble Yeats wins first race in front of crowds for three years". Sky News. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Grand National: Noble Yeats wins in Sam Waley-Cohen's final ride". BBC Sport. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  3. ↑ "Noble Yeats puts his sire on course for first championship". Racing Post. 9 April 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Noble Yeats". Racing Post. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  5. 1 2 "'I've no regrets over selling Noble Yeats - it's my best day in racing'". Racing Post. 9 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "Grand National heroes soak up homecoming atmosphere". irishracing.com. 11 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "Noble Yeats Pedigree". Retrieved 10 April 2022.
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