Friday, March 29

Grand National 2022: Amateur Sam Waley-Cohen wins with 50-1 Noble Yeats on his final ride | Grand National 2022


Amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen enjoyed a fairytale finale to his career as steered Noble Yeats to victory in the Randox Grand National at Aintree.

The 39-year-old announced his intention to retire on Thursday, nominating Emmet Mullins’ charge as his farewell ride in the world’s most famous steeplechase.

Until this success, Waley-Cohen was probably most famous for reportedly getting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to rekindle their romance after their split in 2007. the pair were quick to tweet their congratulations.

Sent off at 50-1, few would have expected Noble Yeats to strike in the extended four-and-a-quarter-mile showpiece – but she ran a magnificent race as he fended off the 15-2 favorite Any Second Now for a famous National success.

Coming to the last they were the only pair in contention and under a strong drive, Noble Yeats kept finding more to prevail in the colors of Waley-Cohen’s father, Robert. Delta Work (10-1) was third with Santini (33-1) in fourth.

“It’s a dream. I couldn’t believe it. I’ve got to say thank you, as it’s my last ever ride, to my dad [Robert Waley-Cohen, owner]for unwavering belief and love,” said the jockey afterwards.

“Over 23 years and never a cross word, never been anything but a dream. It’s been a love affair. To my wife, long-suffering, they aren’t all good days, there are bad days in this sport,” he added. “It’s a fairytale, a fantasy. There’s a lot of love and gratefulness. It’s getting on the right horses and getting the luck. You couldn’t make it up, could you?

The owner, who bought the horse for his son to ride, said: “It’s a dream come true. I can’t speak, I shouted so much. You can’t go without the horse but the horse can’t go without the jockey.”

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Trainer Emmet Mullins was sending out his first ever National runner. He said: “It was a long-term plan and it seems to have come off in the end somehow, I don’t know how!

“We were probably more confident a month ago. The closer we got to it, everyone else seemed to be talking up their chances and we went cold. The form behind Ahoy Senor, a Grade One winner yesterday, that was a great run at Wetherby and the performance there [gave us confidence].”

Ted Walsh, trainer of the runner-up Any Second Now, said: “To get that close, it’s a sickener, but equally it’s a great for the Cohen family, and seeing the father going down the track to meet his son in tears.

“Mark [Walsh, jockey] said he missed the break but that he jumped and traveled well. I thought jumping the last he might get there, but the other horse has outstayed us from the elbow. I’ve seen a lot happen from the elbow including Crisp getting caught by Red Rum. Unfortunately for us the post is another 100 yards away, and that’s where you get paid.”

ITV Racing reported that all horses had returned to the stables but some were being assessed, in particular Discorama. Green screens were out around Eclair Surf who fell at the third fence and the field missed that obstacle out on the second circuit.




www.theguardian.com

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