Noble Yeats slashed for Boodles Gold Cup after Many Clouds success

Randox Grand National hero Noble Yeats made a spectacular return to Aintree in claiming the Boylesports Many Clouds Chase.

Emmet Mullins’ Irish raider was a 50-1 outsider in April when he provided amateur Sam Waley-Cohen with a fairytale farewell to the saddle and also became the first seven-year-old since Bogskar in 1940 to win the world’s most famous steeplechase.

However, he was much more respected in the market this time around and was gambled into 3-1 second-favourite shortly before the off.

Content to stalk the fancied Ahoy Senor for the majority of the journey, it was at the second-last when Noble Yeats was set alight by his new pilot Sean Bowen and the duo put the race to bed in a matter of strides as he recorded a taking success over the admirable Dashel Drasher, who was up with the pace alongside Lucinda Russell’s well-held favourite throughout in the hands of Rex Dingle.

Bowen said: “He races a little bit lazily and never does too much, but as we all know his jumping is absolutely brilliant. Even though he was racing lazily I would wing a fence and be back on the bridle again.

“I spoke to Sam before I rode him at Wexford and he said ‘if you have cover, when you pull him out he’ll really go’ and he did exactly that today.

“He quickened smartly from the back of two out and did it nicely, beating some good horses.”

Such was the manner of victory, Betfair make Noble Yeats 10-1 from 25-1 for the Gold Cup in March and 6-1 from 25-1 for the King George at Kempton later this month. Coral went 12-1 for a second National and 16-1 for the Gold Cup.

Waley-Cohen was in attendance, and said: “That was brilliant and I can’t say you don’t miss it when you see it go like that. It was great to see him running so well for Sean and I’m thrilled for everyone.

“The King George is not very far away so I think we’ll get him home and have a think and work it out from there.

“I don’t think we expected that today – he’s done it very well against some really good horses. He looks like the real deal and we’ll have to work out where to go next.

“It would be great (to go for the King George) and dad (Robert Waley-Cohen) has always been up for it, but the main thing is to see if the horse is up for it first.”

Mullins was delighted to be back in the Aintree winner’s enclosure, but would not be pressed on future targets for his stable star.

“I managed to find the same spot in the stand to watch it. It was a bit emptier this time around, but it’s very special and the horse definitely knew where he was,” said the trainer.

“I’d say they went a good gallop and probably softened each other up in front. We were there then with stamina in abundance to come through and pick up the pieces I suppose.

“We were very hopeful. It was a lovely run in Wexford to get us back on track and that is another step up the ladder today. He seems to progressing all the time.”

Asked whether a tilt at the King George could be a possibility, he added: “Everything is a possibility – we won’t rule anything in or out here today.

“We’ll get him home and see how he takes it. He can be a bit highly strung in the preliminaries and afterwards as well, but during the race he seems to know what’s going on and switches off and does the business.

“We have the option (of the Gold Cup) and we’ll keep both options open (Gold Cup and Grand National) for as long as we can.

“He’s opened the Gold Cup door a bit wider after that. Whether we can get our heads through it is another thing, but it’s a strong possibility.”

Dixon Cove secured some valuable black type with a gritty display in the Boylesports Moneyback Meetings Everyday Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree.

Snapped up by Paul Nicholls following some creditable efforts in defeat in France, the three-year-old won as she liked on her British debut at Hereford last month, earning her a step up to Listed class.

Harry Skelton had to get to work aboard the even-money favourite halfway up the straight, but to her credit Dixon Cove answered his every call and passed the post with a length and a quarter in hand.

Gordon Elliott’s Calico filled the runner-up spot, with French raider Isaline De Chandou third.

Nicholls’ pupil assistant, Conor Houlihan, said of the winner: “That was brilliant – she’s a real tough filly. Harry was very happy with her and said she’ll jump a fence in time.

“She showed she has real grit and determination to get through the line.

“I’m not sure where Paul will go with her now, but she’s won a Listed race now so she’s already a nice filly and the future’s bright with her.”

Strong Leader claimed a third win from four starts in the Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed Novices’ Hurdle for Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen.

Impressive in winning at Warwick bumper in May, the son of Passing Glance finished second at Cheltenham on his reappearance before making a successful transition to hurdling at Uttoxeter three weeks ago.

The five-year-old was a 2-1 shot to follow up and after tracking Jaramillo to the final flight, he picked up well on the run-in to score by eight lengths from 7-4 favourite Etalon.

“Jumping hasn’t come naturally to this lad at all and it’s probably an understatement saying that,” said Murphy.

“He was a lot more professional through his race today, switched off good and I thought he jumped well on the whole. There’s still probably plenty to brush up on, but he’s a horse we’ve always liked, his bumper form is good and he’s going in the right direction over hurdles.

“He’s one to look forward to, but we might just go small again without going into Graded company just yet. We’ll have a chat to the owners and see.

“We could look at the Tolworth Hurdle if it wasn’t Sandown soft, but maybe we’ll save a fancier target until the spring as he definitely wouldn’t want heavy ground.”

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Broadway Boy made it third time lucky in the Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

The four-year-old had finished second in his two previous outings, most recently chasing home the exciting Authorised Speed – a winner at Sandown earlier in the day.

Turning for home it looked like the 5-2 chance might have to make do with minor honours once again on Merseyside, but he knuckled down for pressure after the final flight to get up and beat Brandy McQueen by just over four lengths under the trainer’s son Sam.

“He finished like a train on his first run at Market Rasen and then he was second to Authorised Speed last time,” said Twiston-Davies senior.

“I thought he wasn’t going to win on the way round today, but he’s run on well. Staying is definitely his game and next season he’ll be a good chaser.”

Ashtown Lad continued the Skeltons fine run of big Saturday triumphs when showing plenty of guts to grind out the Boylesports Becher Chase at Aintree.

Having plundered both the Betfair Chase and Coral Gold Cup over the last few weekends, Dan Skelton headed to Merseyside looking to continue his purple patch in the training ranks with his eight-year-old, who was sent off the 5-1 second-favourite over the famous Grand National fences.

Kept wide but close to the pace by Harry Skelton, Ashtown Lad was in prime position to land a telling blow and with the jumping finished, the son of Flemensfirth dug deep and responded gamely to his rider’s urgings to hold off 4-1 favourite Gesskille.

Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s six-year-old was finishing runner-up over the National obstacles for the second successive outing having also picked up a silver medal in last month’s Grand Sefton, while the symmetry continued with Grand Sefton third Percussion again filling the final spot on the podium.

Having won this off a mark of 138, Ashtown Lad has now put himself in the picture for a return to Merseyside for the National in April and Paddy Power make him a 33-1 shot for the great race, while Ladbrokes go even further and make him 20-1.

Speaking after the race, Dan Skelton described the last four weeks as “a dream”. He said: “It’s just absolutely amazing. I know he was expected to win, but the week before this run started Nube Negra won at Cheltenham too, so it’s just been an incredible month for us.

“I’m so proud of the team. You are probably getting bored of people saying this, but I merely steer the ship and there’s so many people behind the scenes. There’s four different riders at home who ride these horses, four different owners and four different guys who look after them – it’s a big team and I’m just absolutely delighted.

“This horse has to have space, if you get him crowded he can just curl up on you a little bit. I think that stems from him being a young horse and perhaps today is the beginning of him becoming a man.

“We knew what we wanted to do today and Harry got him into a good position, he jumped beautifully and this is both of our first winners over these fences.

“Sometimes it just feels like it isn’t going to happen and he went too well to be honest. Halfway up the run-in Gesskille was flying and after his run here last time I just thought we were vulnerable. That run-in is so long but thankfully we weren’t caught.”

Ashtown Lad was handed quotes of 33-1 for next year’s Randox Grand National, though his trainer was keen to bide his time before committing his charge to the world’s greatest chase.

He continued: “The Grand National is one of the obvious races to target and Darren (Yates) who owns him harbours a serious interest in it. Whether a win over the fences increases that desire I don’t know but I think we’ll need to think very hard about the trip.

“I know he’s a year older but last year he didn’t stay in the Scottish National and this trip of three miles and a quarter is probably more like it, but he’s a year older and who’s to say he won’t get it in time. He loves the jumps though and that’s vital.

“We’ve got Cheltenham next week, but I don’t know what we have to run! This run will come to an end of course but we’ll enjoy it while it lasts.”

Winning jockey Harry Skelton added: "That was fantastic. I just wanted to get out wide as he's a big horse and likes a bit of space and he was in a good rhythm.

"I think the only one he missed was the second-last when the jockey was maybe a bit brave, but he came for me at the last and then he was well away.

"He took to it really well and his ears were pricked. The whole way round I was very comfortable.

"He would be (a great ride in the Grand National). He didn't quite stay in the Scottish National, but this is a big race in its own right today - it's massive.

"We're having an unbelievable run. Dan is doing a fantastic job training and leads us from the top. The staff working endlessly and we're all enjoying it.

"I couldn't believe it last week after Le Milos won, but we know in this game you're soon back down and you need to keep your feet on the ground.

"We'll enjoy our wins and take our hidings and beatings. It's been a magic few weeks."

Winning owner Darren Yates commented: “Dan has always really liked this horse and last year we felt he needed a little time just to strengthen up. I can’t believe it to be honest, I was always worried after travelling so well that he almost got there too soon and I thought he was going to get caught. I was screaming as he came past the Elbow!

“Honestly I think that tops the Frankie day (when he won over £550,000 on Frankie Dettori’s ‘Magnificent Seven’), when you own one it’s just incredible. I’ve not been moved by a win like that, it was special. We’ve had Blaklion finish sixth before and whether this lad stays quite that far I don’t know. I’ve just won the Becher though so I can’t complain! It’s absolutely amazing. I’ll be getting absolutely hammered tonight!”