'It's a hotter race than you might think' - Grand National hero back in action

Auteuil in mid-October is not renowned as being the sequel to a blockbuster Grand National success, but Emmet Mullins has never been one to stick to scripts so Noble Yeats warms up for a crack at Newbury's Coral Gold Cup next month in the Prix Heros XII (2.50).

The Grade 3 chase, over 2m6f, is worth £54,832 to the winner and Mullins has booked France-based jockey James Reveley for the occasion.

Noble Yeats faces ten rivals and the David Cottin-trained Le Berry is likely to start favourite having returned to action with an odds-on success over hurdles at Compiegne last month. He comfortably disposed of the Tom George-trained Goa Lil there and will have race-fitness on his side as he attempts to claim the scalp of the Grand National hero.

Le Berry won the race last year too, beating stablemate General En Chef by three lengths when 8-5 favourite. He has won an impressive 11 of his 14 career outings, including the Grade 1 Prix Maurice Gillois at the track in 2020.

Niko Has, from the Francois Nicolle stable, is another talented rival. The five-year-old has won five of his ten starts, with all bar one of those coming at Auteuil.

The Grand National winner returns to action on SaturdayCredit: Shaun Botterill

Mullins is under no illusions about the magnitude of the task facing Noble Yeats, but feels it is an ideal springboard for his season.

The trainer said: "It's all systems go and he seems to be in good form. It looks a good starting point for him for the season. It's a different sort of challenge to the ones he might be used to and it's a competitive race, a lot hotter than you might think.

"Le Berry is a good horse and a few of them would be rated in the 150s if they were racing over here."

Noble Yeats is a 20-1 shot with the new sponsors of the race we used to call the Hennessy, and Mullins said that 3m2f event at Newbury on November 26 is still very much on his radar.

He said: "The Newbury race fits nicely into his schedule. There are six weeks between now and then and that's a nice gap."

Noble Yeats is generally a 20-1 shot to register back-to-back wins in the Grand National next April, a feat last accomplished by Tiger Roll in 2018 and 2019.

Champions Day previews:

1.25 Ascot: Can Trueshan recapture his best in a stellar running of the Long Distance Cup?

2.00 Ascot: 'He’s the one they’ve got to beat' - Appleby confident as top sprinters clash

2.40 Ascot: Can Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn bounce back from King George flop?

3.20 Ascot: 'The small field makes it trappier' - John Gosden on hot QEII favourite Inspiral

4.00 Ascot: Will it be 11 and out or can anyone spoil 'incredible' Baaeed's retirement party?

4.40 Ascot: 'He leads Baaeed every day'- who has had the ideal Balmoral prep?

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