Harry Cobden looking forward to riding 2022 Grand National hero Noble Yeats over the Aintree fences.
The Robert Waley-Cohen-owned nine-year-old was steered to victory by son Sam two years ago and a return to the Aintree winners' enclosure in April has always been on the mind for connections of Noble Yeats, who lost little in defeat when finishing fourth to Corach Rambler in the hands of Sean Bowen twelve months ago.
However, with Bowen on the sidelines earlier in the season through injury, Noble Yeats required a new jockey as he began his somewhat unusual route to regaining his Grand National crown in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January. It would be Bowen's championship rival Harry Cobden who would partner Noble Yeats to victory at Prestbury Park that day and the pair would retain the relationship when seventh in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle at the Festival earlier this month.
With Bowen back amongst the winners and chasing Cobden hard in the jockey's championship, connections had a decision to make over who would ride their Grand National hero in the 2024 renewal.
It will be the in-form Harry Cobden who will ride Noble Yeats at Aintree on April 13, a day the title-chasing rider is certainly looking forward to as he bids to break his Grand National duck.
"I'm really looking forward to riding Noble Yeats in the Grand National. He's trained by a very shrewd man in Emmet Mullins who knows how to ready a horse for this race as he did so well a couple of years ago when Sam Waley-Cohen rode him to victory," said Cobden in his blog for Planet Sport.
"I'm glad I've had a couple of goes on him now because it does take a bit of time to understand how best to ride him. I know plenty about him, but I'll definitely watch his two National runs back before the big day.
"Connections are quite keen for the ground to dry up a bit as he's probably slightly more effective on a sounder surface, so let's hope there isn't too much rain between now and the race."
He added: "To have a genuine chance in the National is fantastic. Every other ride I've had in it hasn't really had much going for it, so to know he stays the trip and has plenty of experience over the fences is great and I'm very excited.
"I haven't had much success in the National itself, but I won the Topham a couple of times aboard Ultragold, so I do know the sort of horse required to go well around there. Unfortunately, I don't often get to the second circuit in the big race itself, so let's hope that changes this year!
"It's the biggest and most well-known race of the season and it would be amazing to win it. To me, it's only second to the Gold Cup and of course, I'd love to win it. I'm very lucky to have a horse this year that has a proper chance and I can't wait to have a crack at winning it on him."
Noble Yeats is a 16/1 chance with Paddy Power for the Aintree feature next month.
