Sam Waley-Cohen to Ride Argentina’s Gaucho Derby for Oxford Children’s Hospital

Sam Waley‑Cohen is set to tackle the Gaucho Derby in southern Argentina, an ultra‑endurance equine challenge of roughly 310 miles over multiple days, in a bid to raise funds for the Oxford Children’s Hospital. The move marks a striking second act for the retired amateur who sealed a fairytale farewell at Aintree when he rode Noble Yeats to victory in the 2022 Randox Grand National.

Waley‑Cohen’s Aintree triumph remains one of the most dramatic exits in recent jumps racing. On April 9, 2022, 50‑1 outsider Noble Yeats, trained in Ireland by Emmet Mullins and owned by Sam’s father, Robert Waley‑Cohen, came through the 4‑mile, 514‑yard course to hold off 15‑2 favourite Any Second Now. Noble Yeats finished ahead of Any Second Now by roughly two and a quarter lengths, with Delta Work third and Santini fourth. Waley‑Cohen, who had announced Noble Yeats would be his final ride, described the moment as a dream: “It's a fairy tale. It's a fantasy,” and added that the result left him “understandably shell‑shocked.” Trainer Emmet Mullins reflected on the perfect ending: “For Sam to go out on a win like this, you could not write it.”

Waley‑Cohen was 39 on race day and celebrated his 40th birthday the following week. His career already included headline successes well before Aintree: the 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Long Run, two King George VI Chase victories, multiple Foxhunters’ Chase successes on Katarino and Warne, Topham Chase wins on Liberthine and Rajdhani Express, and a Becher Chase win on Oscar Time. Across Aintree he built an exceptional record: seven wins over the Grand National fences from 41 rides, with Grand National starts in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021 and the 2022 victory aboard Noble Yeats.

Off the track, Waley‑Cohen combined riding with business interests. He runs a chain of dental practices that has expanded across multiple European countries and has a personal profile that includes long‑standing ties to senior figures in public life. The Aintree victory was also notable for its poignancy: Waley‑Cohen carried the name of his late brother Thomas on his saddle in the winner’s enclosure.

Taking on the Gaucho Derby shifts Waley‑Cohen from one form of high‑stakes racing to another. Ultra‑endurance events test horse and rider across long distances and multiple days, and they raise different welfare and logistical questions than fences races. Aintree’s 2022 meeting itself was marked by scrutiny over equine safety, with three equine fatalities reported during the three‑day card; those events underline the responsibility that comes with high‑profile equestrian endeavours.

The announced charity aim, raising funds for the Oxford Children’s Hospital, gives the venture clear public interest. Organisers and Waley‑Cohen’s representatives have not yet published full logistical details such as exact dates, horse arrangements or fundraising mechanics, and confirmation of entries and targets is expected to follow. For racing fans, the story offers a compelling narrative: a celebrated amateur champion moving beyond a storied jumps career into a gruelling endurance test for a cause, with the potential to spotlight both equine sport and hospital fundraising in equal measure.