The latter’s son, Sam, who rode Noble Yeats to National success, was at Ascot on Saturday and said: “Noble Yeats has got a few aches and pains but we are not thinking of retirement at this stage.
It was about six weeks ago that trainer Emmet Mullins revealed Noble Yeats, the 2022 Aintree hero who was fourth in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup, was being sent back to his owner Robert Waley-Cohen’s base.
On the occasions I was lucky enough to interview Michael - including for ITV Racing after his emotional victory on Marine Nationale - he came across as the kind of guy you would always listen to.
It's clear when you read what Sam, Nico and Harry have said that Michael would not have wanted his life to have gone down any other route.
Michael was a Cheltenham Festival hero, landing the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Marine Nationale.
