The chaser won easily at Wexford on Monday and now heads the betting for the world’s greatest steeplechase as Emmet Mullins trains him to win the race for the second time
Noble Yeats surged to clear Grand National favouritism by turning on the style at Wexford.
Last year’s Aintree hero jumped with aplomb for new jockey Sean Bowen and cleared away from Hurricane Georgie by four-and-three-quarter lengths. Odds-on favourite Run Wild Fred floundered on the ground in the Listed M.W. Hickey Memorial Chase and could only muster a distant third place.
Bookies cut Noble Yeats’ price across the board for next April’s double bid, four years on from Tiger Roll’s record exploits. Emmet Mullins’ chaser is 12-1 (from 16-1) with Paddy Power after the polished front-running display for his recently appointed rider.
“He is a horse that wouldn’t impress you on the way around, he just does what he needs to do,” Bowen said. “Every time you ask him, he gives it to you.”