Yeats (Ire) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Just ten days remain for racing fans to choose which of five nominated stayers–Ardross (GB) (Run the Gantlet), Le Moss (Ire) (Le Levanstell {GB}), Persian Punch (Ire) (Persian Heights {GB}), Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), and Yeats (Ire) (Sadler's Wells)–will join recent QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame inductees Sir Michael Stoute and Sea The Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}).

The horses on the list were selected by the Hall of Fame's eight-member judging panel comprised of experts from across the horse racing industry. It is now up to the public to choose which of the shortlist will enter the Hall of Fame.
Launched in 2021, the Hall of Fame immortalises Modern Greats of the sport, both human and equine, from 1970 onwards. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute and Sea The Stars became the first inductees of 2023 and officially recognised at Newmarket Racecourse earlier this year.

Ardross won the G1 Gold Cup in 1981 and 1982 and also was a two-time winner of the G2 Yorkshire Cup and G2 Geoffrey Freer S. Le Moss was the first horse to win the Stayers' Triple crown–the Gold Cup, G2 Goodwood Cup and G2 Doncaster Cup–on two occasions in 1978 and 1980. Persian Punch won 20 of his 63 races and was third twice in the G1 Melbourne Cup. He also recorded three wins in both the G3 Henry II Stakes and G3 Jockey Club Cup. Stradivarius retired in 2022 with a record of 18 European Group races wins, included three successive Gold Cup victories and four triumphs in the G1 Goodwood Cup. He also won the G2 Yorkshire Cup and G2 Lonsdale Cup on three occasions, plus two G2 Doncaster Cups and a G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup. Yeats is the only four-time winner of the Gold Cup (2006-2009) and also annexed the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom, the Goodwood Cup two times, plus an G1 Irish St Leger and G1 Prix Royal-Oak.

“It was quite the task for the panel to agree upon the shortlist and this was the most engaged and animated debate we have had so far,” Rod Street, non-voting chair of the panel, said. “This reflects the great affection in which stayers are held as well as how greatness this is measured – either in terms of performance or impact on the sport – both of which are part of the Hall of Fame voting criteria.”

The public vote will close on Wednesday, July 26. To register a vote, visit the Hall of Fame website. Fans can also vote on interactive screens in the Hall of Fame exhibition within the Thompson Gallery at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket.

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Sam Waley-Cohen, who was riding in his final race before retirement, booted home 50-1 shot Noble Yeats (Ire) (Yeats {Ire}) to a 2 1/4-length victory in the G3 Randox Grant National. The amateur rider had announced his pending retirement on Thursday. Any Second Now (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) was second after running third in 2021, 20 lengths ahead of Cheltenham winner Delta Work (Fr) (Network {Ger}).

“He ran for me, he couldn't go the early pace and I just tried to find pockets to give him a bit of space to run into,” said Waley-Cohen, who was riding in his father Robert's silks for trainer Emmet Mullins. “I found myself on the inner and was going more forward than I wanted to.

“He loves seeing his fences, so I kept trying to find a spot where he could see them. When I asked him he came, but if I just half-asked him he wasn't confident, so I was trying to sit against him–he likes the bit in his mouth and your legs against him.

“I was just trying to get him in that nice rhythm and as soon as I asked him, he went. I thought I'd gone too early [at the last]. I really didn't want to get there then, but as soon as he picked up I thought 'he's gone, he's got this'.

“Dad has always supported me unwaveringly, we've never had a cross word, it's always been for fun. It's been a love affair. To my wife, long-suffering, they aren't all good days, there are bad days in this sport.

“We came here thinking the sun's out, it's your last ride–go and have a nice spin, no expectations. Just enjoy it. It's a dream. I couldn't believe it.”

He added, “I have to thank so many people. People said he was too young at seven, but when you're on a horse that age you can take chances and it paid off. He jumped neatly and I started to think he was really travelling, I started following Santini and then he just started to go forwards.

“He jumped the last well, but then I felt the other horse come to me and I thought he was going to get me. But when I really asked him he kept finding and galloped all the way to the line.

“I was overwhelmed when I crossed the line, but then you have a responsibility to the horse so I had to keep him walking and get some water on him and make sure he was fine. As a jockey your race isn't run until your horse is safe so that was my main thought–then get weighed in and go and enjoy it!

Robert Waley-Cohen said, “He's the only the amateur to have won the Gold Cup, the King George twice and the Grand National. It's so extraordinary.”

Waley-Cohen was given a nine-day ban and a £400 fine by the stewards for overuse of the whip and in the incorrect place in the finish.

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