Amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen enjoyed a fairytale finale to his career as he guided Noble Yeats to a thrilling victory in the Randox Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.
Waley-Cohen had announced on Thursday that it would be his final ride before retirement. Most expected the 39-year-old to be little more than a support player aboard a novice chaser owned by his father, Robert, but instead the pair took centre stage in the greatest race of them all.
Noble Yeats, right, jumps the last with Any Second Now in a thrilling Randox Grand National (Pic – focusonracing.com)
Sent off at 50-1, Noble Yeats was going well from some way out but favourite backers were on good terms with themselves when Any Second Now hit the front at the final fence.
However, Waley-Cohen, who has also built up a chain of dental practices, extracted more from his mount and won going away by two and a quarter lengths.
Watch the closing stages
Coming to the last they were the only pair in contention and under a strong drive, Noble Yeats kept finding more to prevail.
“It’s a dream – it won’t sink in for weeks. It’s beyond words,” he told Racing TV’s Tom Stanley, holding his two young children. “He couldn’t go the early pace, he loved seeing his fences. As soon as I asked him, he went.
“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?”
Any Second Now, the 15-2 favourite, was runner-up having been an unlucky third 12 months ago, with Delta Work, returned at 10-1, a distant third. Santini (33-1) was best of the British in fourth, with _Fiddlerontheroof _(12-1) fifth.
A maximum field of 40 took part and all the horses returned to the stables.
Waley-Cohen became the first amateur jockey to win since Marcus Armytage won on Mr Frisk in 1990. And Noble Yeats also bucked the trends, becoming the first seven-year-old to triumph since 1940.
Watch the replay:
Mullins was having his first runner in the iconic race and 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).”
A proud Waley-Cohen Sr said: “It’s a dream come true. I can’t speak, I shouted too much! You can’t go round without the horse but the horse can’t get round without the jockey.
“Sam used to ride the National on his rocking horse, that’s how far back it goes.”
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 travelled 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.”
Gordon Elliott, trainer of the third-placed Delta Work, said: “I thought he was a bit novicey but then he crept into it. We were close enough if good enough and I was very happy with his third finish.”
Polly Gundry, trainer of Santini, who ran a huge race in fourth, said: “This was such an amazing thrill with a beautiful old fashioned horse and I’m so pleased to see him come back. “To show the courage to avoid the carnage, I feel honoured to train him.
“He got better and better as the race developed, but we are also thrilled for the Waley-Cohens who come from the point-to-point world like us. It’s just a fairytale ending.”
