Sam Waley-Cohen
Sam Waley-Cohen
Sam Waley-Cohen
Sam Waley-Cohen was a highly accomplished amateur rider whose victories included the Cheltenham Gold Cup, King George VI Chase (twice) and, on his final ride before retirement, the 2022 Grand National – his seventh (and greatest) victory over the Grand National fences. He is the only amateur rider to win both the Gold Cup and the Grand National.
Sam Waley-Cohen was a highly accomplished amateur rider whose victories included the Cheltenham Gold Cup, King George VI Chase (twice) and, on his final ride before retirement, the 2022 Grand National – his seventh (and greatest) victory over the Grand National fences. He is the only amateur rider to win both the Gold Cup and the Grand National.
He achieved all that despite combining race-riding with running a successful chain of dental practices.
He achieved all that despite combining race-riding with running a successful chain of dental practices.
Sam Bernard Waley-Cohen was born in Westminster, London on 15 April 1982, the son of businessman, racehorse breeder and permit trainer Robert Waley-Cohen and his wife Felicity. He is a nephew of theatre owner and producer Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen, and grandson of Lord Mayor of London Sir Bernard Waley-Cohen. His great-grandfather, Marcus Samuel, 1st Viscount Bearsted, was the founder of Shell Oil.
Sam Bernard Waley-Cohen was born in Westminster, London on 15 April 1982, the son of businessman, racehorse breeder and permit trainer Robert Waley-Cohen and his wife Felicity. He is a nephew of theatre owner and producer Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen, and grandson of Lord Mayor of London Sir Bernard Waley-Cohen. His great-grandfather, Marcus Samuel, 1st Viscount Bearsted, was the founder of Shell Oil.
Sam was educated at Dragon School and St Edward’s School, Oxford, before completing a Masters in Politics at University of Edinburgh. He then went to work for an international agricultural business ahead of establishing his own firm – Portman Dental Care – in 2008.
Sam was educated at Dragon School and St Edward’s School, Oxford, before completing a Masters in Politics at University of Edinburgh. He then went to work for an international agricultural business ahead of establishing his own firm – Portman Dental Care – in 2008.
His love affair with Aintree was fired by the mare Auntie Dot, trained by John Webber. The Waley-Cohen family regularly attended the Grand National meeting, staying with the racecourse’s managing director, Charles Barnett. For some reason, Auntie Dot captured young Sam’s imagination. She finished 17th in the 1990 John Hughes Memorial Trophy (better known as the Topham Chase), well behind Won’t Be Gone Long, owned by Robert Waley-Cohen and trained by Nicky Henderson. She also finished third to Seagram in the 1991 Grand National.
His love affair with Aintree was fired by the mare Auntie Dot, trained by John Webber. The Waley-Cohen family regularly attended the Grand National meeting, staying with the racecourse’s managing director, Charles Barnett. For some reason, Auntie Dot captured young Sam’s imagination. She finished 17th in the 1990 John Hughes Memorial Trophy (better known as the Topham Chase), well behind Won’t Be Gone Long, owned by Robert Waley-Cohen and trained by Nicky Henderson. She also finished third to Seagram in the 1991 Grand National.
Sam was a member of Britain’s junior pony event team and had show-jumping lessons with international rider Ted Edgar. But riding in races was what he really yearned for. His father bought him a couple of old ‘schoolmasters’, Wishing William and Strong Chairman, who had both raced under National Hunt rules. He rode his first point-to-point winner on Wishing William at Mollington, where Robert was chairman, on 30 January 2002. He would ride 101 more.
Sam was a member of Britain’s junior pony event team and had show-jumping lessons with international rider Ted Edgar. But riding in races was what he really yearned for. His father bought him a couple of old ‘schoolmasters’, Wishing William and Strong Chairman, who had both raced under National Hunt rules. He rode his first point-to-point winner on Wishing William at Mollington, where Robert was chairman, on 30 January 2002. He would ride 101 more.
Sam rode his first winner under the rules of racing on Moscow Dancer, trained by Peter Monteith, in an amateur riders’ handicap hurdle on Kelso on 1 December 2003.
Sam rode his first winner under the rules of racing on Moscow Dancer, trained by Peter Monteith, in an amateur riders’ handicap hurdle on Kelso on 1 December 2003.
Looking to enhance his involvement in the breeding side, Robert Waley-Cohen bought a mare named Liberthine in France, where she had won three mares’ hurdles races for Guillaume Macaire. He put her with Nicky Henderson with the aim of boosting her paddock value by winning a race in Britain.
Looking to enhance his involvement in the breeding side, Robert Waley-Cohen bought a mare named Liberthine in France, where she had won three mares’ hurdles races for Guillaume Macaire. He put her with Nicky Henderson with the aim of boosting her paddock value by winning a race in Britain.
She made her debut in a beginners’ chase at Stratford on 15 March 2004, the day before the Cheltenham Festival. Henderson was understandably reluctant to put one of his jockeys up so close to Cheltenham, so young Sam got the call. Liberthine duly galloped home by eight lengths.
She made her debut in a beginners’ chase at Stratford on 15 March 2004, the day before the Cheltenham Festival. Henderson was understandably reluctant to put one of his jockeys up so close to Cheltenham, so young Sam got the call. Liberthine duly galloped home by eight lengths.
The following year, Liberthine and Sam romped to victory in the Mildmay of Flete Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Sam having skipped a university tutorial to ride the 25-1 outsider. Three weeks later, he rode his first winner over Aintree’s Grand National fences when Katarino, trained by his father, won the Foxhunters’ Chase.
The following year, Liberthine and Sam romped to victory in the Mildmay of Flete Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Sam having skipped a university tutorial to ride the 25-1 outsider. Three weeks later, he rode his first winner over Aintree’s Grand National fences when Katarino, trained by his father, won the Foxhunters’ Chase.
Twelve months later, Sam completed an Aintree double over the Grand National fences, winning the 2006 Topham Chase on Liberthine and a second Foxhunters’ Chase on Katarino. Remarkably, they were only Sam’s ninth and tenth winners under rules.
Twelve months later, Sam completed an Aintree double over the Grand National fences, winning the 2006 Topham Chase on Liberthine and a second Foxhunters’ Chase on Katarino. Remarkably, they were only Sam’s ninth and tenth winners under rules.
He made his Grand National debut in 2007 on Liberthine, finishing fifth behind Silver Birch. About a year later, Sam and his father went to Auteuil, having noticed that Liberthine’s half-brother was running. Impressed with what they saw, they struck a deal to buy him. The horse’s name was Long Run.
He made his Grand National debut in 2007 on Liberthine, finishing fifth behind Silver Birch. About a year later, Sam and his father went to Auteuil, having noticed that Liberthine’s half-brother was running. Impressed with what they saw, they struck a deal to buy him. The horse’s name was Long Run.
Sam rode Long Run on his British debut in the Grade 1 Feltham Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day 2009. They won easily. The next season they won the King George VI Chase, preventing Kauto Star from winning it for a record fifth consecutive year; then beat one of the best Cheltenham Gold Cup fields ever assembled in 2011, defeating Denman by seven lengths with Kauto Star four lengths further back in third. He became the first amateur since Jim Wilson on Little Owl in 1981 to win the race.
Sam rode Long Run on his British debut in the Grade 1 Feltham Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day 2009. They won easily. The next season they won the King George VI Chase, preventing Kauto Star from winning it for a record fifth consecutive year; then beat one of the best Cheltenham Gold Cup fields ever assembled in 2011, defeating Denman by seven lengths with Kauto Star four lengths further back in third. He became the first amateur since Jim Wilson on Little Owl in 1981 to win the race.
Having won the King George and Gold Cup, Sam came close to capping off a sensational season when riding Oscar Time to finish second to Ballabriggs in the 2011 Grand National.
Having won the King George and Gold Cup, Sam came close to capping off a sensational season when riding Oscar Time to finish second to Ballabriggs in the 2011 Grand National.
Sam and Long Run finished third to Synchronised and Bobs Worth respectively in the 2012 and 2013 renewals of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. They finished second to Kauto Star in the 2011 King George VI Chase, then won that race for a second time in 2012, beating Richard Johnson on Captain Chris by a neck. They also finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length, to Sir Des Champs in the 2013 Punchestown Gold Cup.
Sam and Long Run finished third to Synchronised and Bobs Worth respectively in the 2012 and 2013 renewals of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. They finished second to Kauto Star in the 2011 King George VI Chase, then won that race for a second time in 2012, beating Richard Johnson on Captain Chris by a neck. They also finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length, to Sir Des Champs in the 2013 Punchestown Gold Cup.
Sam won three more races over the Grand National fences, landing the 2014 Fox Hunters’ Chase on Warne, the 2014 Becher Chase on Oscar Time, and the 2015 Topham Chase on Rajdhani Express.
Sam won three more races over the Grand National fences, landing the 2014 Fox Hunters’ Chase on Warne, the 2014 Becher Chase on Oscar Time, and the 2015 Topham Chase on Rajdhani Express.
In 2021 Sam had a memorable Grand National ride on Jett, taking the lead soon after the start. Eight lengths clear with four fences left to jump, Jett was finally headed two out and faded to finish eighth.
In 2021 Sam had a memorable Grand National ride on Jett, taking the lead soon after the start. Eight lengths clear with four fences left to jump, Jett was finally headed two out and faded to finish eighth.
On the Thursday of Aintree’s 2022 Grand National meeting, Sam rode Jett in the Foxhunters’ Chase but they had faded out of contention when pulling up two fences from home. After the race, Sam announced on ITV Racing that he would be retiring and that his 2022 Grand National ride on Noble Yeats, a horse his father had bought only two months earlier, would be his last.
On the Thursday of Aintree’s 2022 Grand National meeting, Sam rode Jett in the Foxhunters’ Chase but they had faded out of contention when pulling up two fences from home. After the race, Sam announced on ITV Racing that he would be retiring and that his 2022 Grand National ride on Noble Yeats, a horse his father had bought only two months earlier, would be his last.
It seemed an implausible dream. The Emmet Mullins-trained Noble Yeats had not even run in a steeplechase until making a winning debut over fences at Galway in October 2021. He had been beaten six times since. In addition, he was only seven years old, and no horse of that age had won the Grand National since Bogskar in 1940.
It seemed an implausible dream. The Emmet Mullins-trained Noble Yeats had not even run in a steeplechase until making a winning debut over fences at Galway in October 2021. He had been beaten six times since. In addition, he was only seven years old, and no horse of that age had won the Grand National since Bogskar in 1940.
But Sam and Noble Yeats defied their 50-1 odds by beating the 15-2 favourite Any Second |Now by two and a quarter lengths. Thus, Sam retired from the saddle in a blaze of glory with victory in the Grand National. He became the first amateur to win the Grand National since Marcus Armytage on Mr Frisk in 1990.
But Sam and Noble Yeats defied their 50-1 odds by beating the 15-2 favourite Any Second |Now by two and a quarter lengths. Thus, Sam retired from the saddle in a blaze of glory with victory in the Grand National. He became the first amateur to win the Grand National since Marcus Armytage on Mr Frisk in 1990.
Altogether, Sam won seven races over the Grand National fences from 41 rides. This made him the joint-most successful course jockey of the post-war era, a feat only matched by the great Irish horseman Pat Taaffe.
Altogether, Sam won seven races over the Grand National fences from 41 rides. This made him the joint-most successful course jockey of the post-war era, a feat only matched by the great Irish horseman Pat Taaffe.
In addition to his Aintree triumphs, Sam won four races at the Cheltenham Festival, the 2011 Gold Cup on Long Run being the undoubted highlight.
In addition to his Aintree triumphs, Sam won four races at the Cheltenham Festival, the 2011 Gold Cup on Long Run being the undoubted highlight.
Having reached his 40th birthday just six days after winning the Grand national, Sam insists there is no possibility whatsoever of a return to the saddle. His burgeoning chain of dental practices has become ever more time-consuming, having grown to over 200 practices spread across the UK, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Having reached his 40th birthday just six days after winning the Grand national, Sam insists there is no possibility whatsoever of a return to the saddle. His burgeoning chain of dental practices has become ever more time-consuming, having grown to over 200 practices spread across the UK, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Major wins:
Major wins:
Grand National: Noble Yeats (2022)
Grand National: Noble Yeats (2022)
Cheltenham Gold Cup: Long Run (2011)
Cheltenham Gold Cup: Long Run (2011)
Other big wins:
Other big wins:
2005: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Liberthine
2005: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Liberthine
2005: (Aintree) Fox Hunters’ Chase – Katarino
2005: (Aintree) Fox Hunters’ Chase – Katarino
2006: Topham Chase – Liberthine
2006: Topham Chase – Liberthine
2006: (Aintree) Fox Hunters’ Chase – Katarino
2006: (Aintree) Fox Hunters’ Chase – Katarino
2009: National Hunt Chase – Tricky Trickster
2009: National Hunt Chase – Tricky Trickster
2009: Feltham Novices’ Chase – Long Run
2009: Feltham Novices’ Chase – Long Run
2010: Kingmaker Novices’ Chase – Long Run
2010: Kingmaker Novices’ Chase – Long Run
2010: King George VI Chase – Long Run
2010: King George VI Chase – Long Run
2012: Denman Chase – Long Run
2012: Denman Chase – Long Run
2012: King George VI Chase – Long Run
2012: King George VI Chase – Long Run
2014: (Aintree) Fox Hunters’ Chase – Warne
2014: (Aintree) Fox Hunters’ Chase – Warne
2014: Becher Chase – Oscar Time
2014: Becher Chase – Oscar Time
2015: Topham Chase – Rajdhani Express
2015: Topham Chase – Rajdhani Express