Cotswold Chase option for Gold Cup fancy Noble Yeats after vaccination error

Grand National winner Noble Yeats could line up in next week's Paddy Power Cotswold Chase after being forced to miss his intended start at Lingfield on Sunday.

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen on Wednesday nominated the Cheltenham race as the likeliest target for Gold Cup second favourite Noble Yeats, who was entered in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield this weekend before it emerged on Tuesday evening that he was not qualified to run due to an issue with his vaccination status.

Trainer Emmet Mullins, meanwhile, said that options were open for the eight-year-old with Newbury's Denman Chase also on the table.

"Vaccinations must have been administered, uploaded to the Weatherbys app and verified by a veterinary surgeon before the close of entries to avoid a horse being not qualified," said the BHA. "In the case of Noble Yeats, this process was not completed in time."

Only Galopin Des Champs is a shorter price for the Gold Cup than Noble Yeats, who is 7-1 with Coral and Ladbrokes. He won the National in fluent style last season and put a tame effort in France behind him when winning a Listed race at Wexford in October. He again impressed in Aintree's Many Clouds Chase.

"Everything is an option at the moment," Mullins said on Wednesday. "I'd prefer to give him a run before Cheltenham but I've no plan at the moment other than to go to the gallop tomorrow morning."

Emmet Mullins: trainer is weighing up options for Noble YeatsCredit: The Jockey Club

Asked if the vaccination requirements were now up to date, Mullins replied: "Yes. If there were entries closing yesterday he would have been eligible."

Looks Like Trouble in 2000 was the last horse to win the Cotswold Chase and follow up in the Gold Cup and Paddy Power's Paul Binfield was thrilled to hear Noble Yeats was a possible contender in the Grade 2 they sponsor next weekend.

Betfair Chase winner Protektorat may also line up and Binfield said: "I'd like to welcome Noble Yeats to the Cotswold Chase party, especially as we'd been hoping Emmet would enter him for the Irish Gold Cup which we also sponsor.

"Lingfield's loss is definitely our gain and as he's second favourite for the Gold Cup. With Protektorat, who, together with Bravemansgame, is the shortest-priced British-trained Gold Cup possible, also likely to run, we look like having a proper trial on our hands."

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30, March 17)

Sky Bet: 13-8 Galopin Des Champs, 13-2 Noble Yeats, 15-2 A Plus Tard, 8 Bravemansgame, Stattler, 9 Protektorat, 12 Conflated, 20 bar

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Noble Yeats misses key prep run at Lingfield because of vaccination status

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