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Grand National hero Noble Yeats has died at the age of 11 after suffering from colic, shortly after the fourth anniversary of his Aintree triumph for the Waley-Cohen family and trainer Emmet Mullins.
Noble Yeats, who won the 2022 Grand National at odds of 50-1 under Sam Waley-Cohen in the silks of his father Robert, was spending his retirement at his owner’s stud in Oxfordshire when the health issue became known on Wednesday.
He was treated by vets through the night but could not be saved and was put down on Thursday morning.
Robert Waley-Cohen said: “He looked very uncomfortable on Wednesday so the vet came out and everybody was up all night treating him and hoping he would pull through, but unfortunately he went the other way. It was a grim moment.
“He was living the life of a retired horse in the field with Long Run [Gold Cup winner] and Oscar Time [2011 Grand National runner-up].
“He was enormous fun at the National and afterwards. The memories of the National are unbelievable – you could not have a better day. It’s the dream of a lifetime to win the National, and to win it with your son made it even more special. It was Sam’s last ride too after he announced on the Thursday that he was going to retire after the National.”
Noble Yeats: provided the Waley-Cohen family with a cherished successCredit: Edward Whitaker
Sam Waley-Cohen went out on the ultimate high by becoming the first amateur to win the National in 32 years aboard the seven-year-old Noble Yeats.
“He gave us one of the great days of our lives and fulfilled our dreams,” said the former jockey. “He was brilliant for us and was one of those special horses.”
Waley-Cohen, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and two King Georges on Long Run, had an excellent record over the National fences and will never forget the memories of the magical day.
“His ability outstripped his looks,” he said. “He looked like a shaggy pony when he came into the paddock, but suddenly in the race he grew into a great champion. He looked like a pauper amongst princes but turned out to be a prince himself.”
Sam Waley-Cohen: “He was brilliant for us and was one of those special horses”Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)
Although his rider had bowed out, Noble Yeats returned to the Aintree showpiece for the next two years, finishing fourth behind Corach Rambler and then down the field in I Am Maximus’s first victory.
Noble Yeats went on to win the 2022 Many Clouds Chase at Aintree and the 2024 Cleeve Hurdle, beating Stayers’ Hurdle winner Paisley Park, at Cheltenham.
He made his final appearance when pulled up in the 2024 Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown, after which he was retired due to arthritis.
Trained throughout his career by Mullins, Noble Yeats won seven of his 24 races and earned more than £750,000 in prize-money.
The Waley-Cohens plan to memorialise Noble Yeats by planting a tree on top of his ashes at the family farm near Banbury.
Noble Yeats’ legacy will live on in many ways as two days before his death, Robert Waley-Cohen won with a horse named in tribute to the famous win when Numero Ventotto, who was born on the same day as the Aintree success, landed the bumper at Market Rasen on Tuesday. Twenty-eight was the number of the saddlecloth Noble Yeats carried to victory in the Grand National.
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