'There’s no rules in this game' - Emmet Mullins doing it his way as Noble Yeats denies Paisley Park to set up Stayers' bid

Emmet Mullins has built a reputation for campaigning his horses unconventionally and he provided the latest example at Cheltenham as Noble Yeats launched himself into the Stayers’ Hurdle picture almost two years on from Grand National victory.

His success in the sport’s toughest jumping test was unique enough given he was only an unheralded novice at the time, and his stamina reserves were put to the test again here as he held off Paisley Park, cheered home by the Cheltenham faithful, by just a head in the McCoy Contractors Cleeve Hurdle.

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen, a longstanding chairman at Cheltenham, enjoyed victory in the Stayers’ Hurdle in 1989 with Rustle, and joked it was time to win it again as connections forged plans for a Cheltenham Festival bid ahead of an Aintree return.

Rustle's victory 35 years ago was an easy-on-the-eye saunter, but Noble Yeats's Cleeve win provided much more anxious viewing. Harry Cobden – replacing regular rider and champion jockey title rival Sean Bowen – was a mixture of confidence and concern in the saddle as he jostled to maintain a prominent position on the nine-year-old.

Full pressure was finally applied as Dashel Drasher took order on the turn for home, but a tired jump at the last left him vulnerable as the pack prepared to pounce. He went down battling, but was unable to stop the surge of Noble Yeats and Cobden in full motion.

Harry Cobden and Emmet Mullins with Cleeve Hurdle winner Noble YeatsCredit: John Grossick

The crowd also surged into life as he hit the front, but the cheers weren't necessarily for Noble Yeats, as only a few yards away the 12-year-old and a three-time Cleeve winner Paisley Park had begun his own charge to launch a chorus from the 20,000-strong parish at jump racing’s spiritual home. But despite a roof-raising effort from Prestbury Park and Paisley Park, it was not enough.

“I’m a little bit sorry to spoil Paisley Park’s story, but not very,” said Waley-Cohen, enjoying his first Cheltenham winner as a sole owner in ten years.

“I thought we’d stay better than anybody. He’s won over four and a quarter miles at Aintree so I think we can do it over three miles at Cheltenham. He was fourth turning in, but he flew up that hill. 

"I won the Stayers’ Hurdle 35 years ago so I think it’s time for another one.”

The Stayers’ to the National may seem a unique route, but Mullins trained The Shunter to complete a Morebattle and Plate double in the space of 12 days in 2021, while last season his Feronily went from being beaten in a bumper to a Grade 1-winning chaser in the space of four months. 

Now the impossible seems possible again with Noble Yeats, and Paddy Power went 25-1 (from 33-1) for an Aintree repeat in April.

Mullins said: “There’s no rules in this game, it’s great to be able to utilise all the races that there are.

“It was a brilliant race with two tough horses running to the line. It was a bit nerve-racking and I would say most other people enjoyed it more than I did.

“We had to come and do that and lay down our claim for that [the Stayers’]. He’d be in with a shout and then all roads lead back to the Grand National."

Paisley Park, sent off 11-4 favourite, was cheered home like a champion after finishing second, but this continued his frustrating season with a third consecutive second place. Trainer Emma Lavelle said it was enough to “deserve a crack” at the Stayers' Hurdle in March.

She said: "He's 12 and has just been beaten a head in his fifth Cleeve. How are you ever going to have a horse like that again? I was fine and then I walked in and people started saying they love him and I wanted to start crying. 

“He's so special and tries his heart out. I felt we had a chance and it might have been his day."

Of the other vanquished, Strong Leader rallied to grab third from Dashel Drasher with Champ just behind in fifth.

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