'All roads lead back to Aintree' - National winner Noble Yeats 12-1 for repeat

Monday: Wexford

Last season's Grand National winner Noble Yeats was cut to 12-1 favourite (from 16s) by Paddy Power for a repeat Aintree win after an impressive performance in the feature Listed chase.

Ridden for the first time by Sean Bowen, Robert Waley-Cohen's seven-year-old put in a foot-perfect round of jumping in the testing ground.

He saw off the challenge of odds-on favourite Run Wild Fred and readily repelled Gordon Elliott's second string Hurricane Georgie to win by four and three-quarter lengths.

It was a fine comeback from Noble Yeats after his season began with a poor effort at Auteuil two weeks ago when he was pulled up after an early mistake.

Emmet Mullins: 'He's still going the right way'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Trainer Emmet Mullins said: "That was a joy to watch. There weren't many anxious moments, everything went to plan.

"He's a very versatile horse and there is no plan as such. We still have plenty of options and he's still going the right way.

"Things didn't go right in France. He made a bad mistake early on and James Reveley did the right thing in pulling him up and leaving us with a horse for today. I imagine all roads lead back to Aintree."

Asked about the booking of Bowen, Mullins added: "The owners were keen to get someone to commit to the horse for the season.

"Sean had ridden a few for them before, he's flying in Britain this season, he's second to Brian Hughes in their championship, and he has a great record over the National fences. Robert certainly had his homework done there."

Results, replays and analysis

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