Randox Grand National hero Noble Yeats (3-1) flew home to land the Grade Two Boylesports Many Clouds Chase on his return to Aintree Racecourse.
And now the Emmet Mullins-trained seven-year-old could be lining up in Grade One company with possible cracks at the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day and the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival being mooted.
Noble Yeats famously won the Grand National, under amateur Sam Waley-Cohen on his final ride back in April, to become the first seven-year-old since Bogskar in 1940 to land the world's greatest steeplechase. But connections had felt he could be a chaser to reach the very top and sent him back to the scene of his finest hour on something of fact-finding mission. And the rising chase star, under new regular rider Sean Bowen, has given them food for thought over where his main targets should be after this latest victory at Aintree, this time over the Mildmay fences.
Up against previous Aintree Grade One winners Ahoy Senor and Chantry House – who disappointingly crashed out of the race at the fourth fence – Noble Yeats didn't look out of place, always jumping well just off the pace set by the former. With Lucinda Russell's Ahoy Senor and recent Aintree hurdles scorer Dashel Drasher (15-2) battling for the lead coming to the final fence, Noble Yeats showed a blistering turn of foot to come into contention and pass his rivals. He went on to score by three-and-a-quarter-lengths from Dashel Drasher with Ahoy Senor a neck back in third.
While the Grand National on April 15 in the spring is still the most likely target connections have plenty of options for their rising star.
Noble Yeats is now as low as 8-1 with Paddy Power and Betfair to win back-to-back Grand Nationals. But he is now just a best-priced 8-1 with Coral bet365 and BetVictor for the King George and is as low as 10-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but a best-priced 16-1 with Coral.
Winning jockey Bowen said: "He races a little bit lazily and never does too much, but as we all know his jumping is absolutely brilliant. Even though he was racing lazily I would wing a fence and be back on the bridle again. I spoke to Sam before I rode him at Wexford and he said 'if you have cover, when you pull him out he'll really go' and he did exactly that today. "He quickened smartly from the back of two out and did it nicely, beating some good horses."
With Noble Yeats still owned by his father Robert, former jockey Sam Waley-Cohen and the family were in attendance at Aintree. And he said: "That was brilliant and I can't say you don't miss it when you see it go like that. It was great to see him running so well for Sean and I'm thrilled for everyone.
"The King George is not very far away so I think we'll get him home and have a think and work it out from there.
"I don't think we expected that today – he's done it very well against some really good horses. He looks like the real deal and we'll have to work out where to go next.
"It would be great (to go for the King George) and dad (Robert Waley-Cohen) has always been up for it, but the main thing is to see if the horse is up for it first."
Trainer Mullins was delighted to be back in the Aintree winner's enclosure, but will wait to see where Noble Yeats goes next.
The County Carlow handler said: "I managed to find the same spot in the stand to watch it. It was a bit emptier this time around, but it's very special and the horse definitely knew where he was.
"I'd say they went a good gallop and probably softened each other up in front. We were there then with stamina in abundance to come through and pick up the pieces I suppose. We were very hopeful. It was a lovely run in Wexford to get us back on track and that is another step up the ladder today. He seems to progressing all the time."
On the possibilty of running again in the King George on Boxing Day, Mullins added; "Everything is a possibility – we won't rule anything in or out here today.
"We'll get him home and see how he takes it. He can be a bit highly strung in the preliminaries and afterwards as well, but during the race he seems to know what's going on and switches off and does the business. We have the option (of the Gold Cup) and we'll keep both options open (Gold Cup and Grand National) for as long as we can.
"He's opened the Gold Cup door a bit wider after that. Whether we can get our heads through it is another thing, but it's a strong possibility."
Paul Nicholls’ French import Dixon Cove (evens favourite) – a wide-margin winner on her British debut in a Juvenile Maiden Hurdle at Hereford last month – doubled up under Harry Skelton in the Listed Boylesports Moneyback Meetings Everyday Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle.
The three-year-old filly had to work hard for victory but she showed she is a gutsy, battling to a length-and-a-quarter from Gordon Elliott's Calico (10-1) with Isaline De Chandou (10-3) a further half-a-lenght back in third.
Paddy Power introduced Dixon Cove into the betting at 20-1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Champion trained Nicholls was at Sandown, but his Irish pupil assistant Conor Houlihan, who arrived at the Ditcheat stable in March having previously worked for Joseph O'Brien in his homeland was impressed.
He said: "It was brilliant. She is a real tough filly and Harry (Skelton) was really happy with her. He said she jumped fine and I'm sure Paul (Nicholls) will find a next step for her. I don't know where he will go next but he will decide that. She has a big future.
"She shows she has real grit and determination. She has won a Listed race now, so she is already a nice filly and the future is bright for her. She is really tough."
Olly Murphy's Strong Leader (2-1) made it two from two over obstacles under James Bowen when landing an impressive victory in the opener, the Boylesports Novices’ Hurdle.
The five-year-old, who had won in good style at Uttoxeter last month, looks a smart prospect and he scored by a comfortable eight lengths from Etalon (7-4 favourite) with the front-running Jaramillo (18-1) a neck back in third.
Trainer Murphy thinks he could be a graded performer but is remaining patient with Strong Leader, who is a full brother to stable-mate Strong Glance. Although the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in the new year is a possible destination if the ground wasn't too heavy.
Trainer Murphy said: "He has run well under a penalty. Jumping hasn't come naturally to this lad at all. It is probably an understatement to say that. He was much more professional today. He switched off good and jumped well on the whole. There is still plenty to brush up on.
"He is a horse we have always liked. His bumper form is strong and he is going in the right direction.
"We trained his brother, Strong Glance, but they couldn't be any more different. The other is highly-strung and this lad is extremely laid-back. He is one to look forward to.
"Whether we look small again – well small, we are at Aintree – but without going into graded company just yet. They are a local syndicate (to me), he is home bred and it is good.
"He is a horse who is going to improve now through his next couple of runs. Maybe we will save a fancier target for the spring. Definitely he wouldn't want heavy ground. Whether we looked at a Tolworth is the ground wasn't real Sandown soft – which it usually is – we may wait. But it is a nice problem to have."
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Broadway Boy (5-2) came through on the rail to win the Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
Under Sam Twiston-Davies, the four-year-old – who had been second on both of his previous starts over hurdles at Lingfield and Market Rasen – stayed on well to score stepped up to three miles for the first time.
Brandy Mcqueen (9-2) had made much of the running but looked to a sitting duck at first as Tyre Kicker (4-1) challenged over the final flight. While Brandy Mcqueen wrestled the lead back on the run to the line, Broadway Boy powered up the rail to pass both and score by four-and-a-quarter lengths from the front-runner with Tyre Kicker a further length-and-a-half back in third.
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "He finished like a train on his first run at Market Rasen and then he was second to Authorised Speed last time. I thought he wasn't going to win on the way round today, but he's run on well. Staying is definitely his game and next season he'll be a good chaser."
