CHELTENHAM NOTEBOOK: Grand National winner Sam Waley-Cohen has no regrets about retirement
CHELTENHAM NOTEBOOK: Grand National winner Sam Waley-Cohen has no regrets about retirement, Sir Alex Ferguson hopes for more footballing success… and Davy Russell PUNCHES BACK at Michael O’Leary
Sam Waley-Cohen admits he occasionally longs to be back in the thick of the big race action, but he has no regrets that he will see his Grand National winner Noble Yeats race in the Gold Cup on Friday afternoon.
Waley-Cohen became the first amateur jockey to win the Grand National in 32 years last April with a 50-1 shot, before announcing his retirement a few minutes later.
His old mount has since gone up another notch, but Waley-Cohen isn’t surprised by Noble Yeats’ progress.
He said: ‘He was a rookie last year, which puts what he did into perspective. He gets along very well with (new jockey) Sean Bowen.
‘I will definitely be there (for the Gold Cup). It’s great to see him do his stuff, it’s still very exciting.”
Grand National winning jockey Sam Waley-Cohen insists he has no regrets about his retirement
Sir Alex Ferguson hopes for more football success
Football was the winner of the Festival on Wednesday when Brighton owner Tony Bloom won the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Energumene, trained by Willie Mullins.
There is also outside interest in Friday’s Gold Cup hopeful Protektorat: the Dan Skelton-trained gelding is part-owned by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
A busy day for Paul Nicholls
Trainer Paul Nicholls has his top runner of the week with Bravemansgame in the Gold Cup.
But his mind will also be on the next St James’s Place Chase, when his daughter Olive makes her Festival debut riding Shantou Flyer.
Davy Russell responds to Michael O’Leary
The conversation in the Gold Cup parade ring between Michael O’Leary and jockey Davy Russell, riding his Conflated racer, could be interesting.
Earlier this week, in an ITV interview, O’Leary made comments that were interpreted as criticism of Russell, 43,’s decision to come out of his 18-day retirement to help trainer Gordon Elliott while his jockey number 1 Jack Kennedy bounces back. of a broken leg.
Russell responded on Thursday, telling ITV: “I have as much respect for Michael O’Leary’s opinion as he does for mine.” Oh!
Jockey Davy Russell was quick to respond to comments made by Michael O’Leary this week.