Noble Yeats Grand National 2023 odds and race record

Noble Yeats stunned the Grand National trends followers last season as he became the first seven-year-old to win the race since the Second World War. 

The bay gelding carried amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen, son of owner Robert Waley-Cohen, to glory on a memorable afternoon as trainer Emmet Mullins enjoyed the biggest victory of his fledgling career. Now he has the task of doing it all again.

Get your hands on £30 in free bets with BetUK Grand National offer

Already got a BetUK account? Take a look at our comprehensive list of Grand National betting offers.

Noble Yeats Grand National chances

For a long, long time, it seemed that retaining the Grand National was going to prove an impossible challenge, but then Tiger Roll did it in 2019, the first to achieve the feat since Red Rum in 1974. 

This year, Noble Yeats is a leading contender to become the second horse in five years to retain the Aintree crown. He defied the trends last spring in winning the race at seven, the first time that had been done since 1940. 

Mullins has been gearing up his charge for a repeat assault on the race ever since. Noble Yeats won a Grade 2 at Aintree in December, and his form this season has shown improvement. Most recently, he was a staying-on fourth in a high-quality Cheltenham Gold Cup last month. 

He does, of course, have a significant ratings adjustment to cope with now. Noble Yeats is rated 19lb higher and will carry 11st 11lb on April 15 – just a pound below the top weight in the race. 

Noble Yeats odds to win the 2023 Grand National

Even at 10/1 there will be some who argue that he has still got some value.

The modern incarnation of the National is not the demanding test of yesteryear, and if he jumps around accurately the stamina that will kick in for Noble Yeats should allow him to be in contention when it matters. 

His final prep at Cheltenham was an excellent effort, and his trainer seems very content with where Noble Yeats is at ahead of their return to this grand stage.  

Noble Yeats record in the Grand National

Who will be riding Noble Yeats for the Grand National?

Amateur pilot Waley-Cohen had the magical send-off that his career merited when he won this race last spring. In his absence, Sean Bowen has picked up the ride on Noble Yeats this season. 

They enjoyed victories together at Wexford and Aintree before Christmas, and have run with credit in two starts at Cheltenham since, including that rallying fourth in the Gold Cup. Bowen, 25, is a talented rider, and he has happy memories of Aintree too, having won his first Grade 1 at the track on If The Cap Fits in the 2019 Liverpool Hurdle.

Who is Noble Yeats’s trainer?

Emmet Mullins has rapidly developed a reputation as a trainer well capable of plotting his way to big-race wins. 

A nephew of all-conquering Irish champion Willie Mullins, the Co Carlow-based handler has enjoyed key successes on the Flat and over jumps, and last year’s success for Noble Yeats in this race was the standout moment of his career to date. 

The young Mullins showed no fear in lining up a seven-year-old contender for Aintree despite an 82-year trend going firmly against them, and his reward was to win jumps racing’s most recognisable contest. 

He clearly has a bright future, and is confident that Noble Yeats at eight will put up a strong defence of his title.