Coole Cody wins the Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Plate Handicap Chase after leading from the first fence and outpacing favourite Imperial Alcazar on day three of Cheltenham
- The Evan Williams horse led the field from the first fence in the Plate Chase
- Adam Wedge had to fight back after losing ground to Imperial Alcazar late on
- Imperial Alcazar and Celebre D’Allen had been joint favourites at 7/2
- Coole Cody now has four career wins which have come at Cheltenham course
Coole Cody registered a fourth success at Cheltenham when rallying in tremendous style to lift the Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Plate Handicap Chase.
Evan Williams’ charge was always close to the pace looked booked for minor honours at best in the closing stages, but he found that bit extra to land the spoils.
Imperial Alcazar put in a strong bid but Coole Cody (22-1) led over the final fence and stormed up the hill to win by six and a half lengths in the hands of Adam Wedge. Spiritofthegames was a nose away in third with Stolen Silver fourth.
Coole Cody won the Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Plate Handicap Chase at Cheltenham
Williams said: ‘At 11 years of age and so many miles on the clock, he just keeps fighting.
‘At the top of the hill a first six finish was my hope because he’s on a career high mark, he jumps right, and I thought how can he improve? He got a bump early, but in truth that helped him and all credit to Wedgy we have a lot to thank him for.
‘But really, even though he looked like he might be beat, the others found that when you get into a fight with this fella there’s only going to be one winner.
Imperial Alcazar put in a strong bid but the Evan Williams led over the final fence
The victory was the 11-year-old horse’s fourth registered success at Cheltenham
‘It’s so odd that he likes Cheltenham with his tendency to jump right, but what we’ve seen with him is this is a tough course for tough horses and he’s one of them.
‘It’s been a long time since our last Festival winner and I am savouring every minute.
‘I enjoy a glass of beer and a glass of wine, but in truth I’m more a cup of tea and digestive biscuits man. It won’t be champagne for me. As you get older, you do appreciate the smaller things in life.’
Wedge added: ‘He’s as hard as they come. He never knows when to stop. He’s fantastic, isn’t he?
‘To ride a winner at Cheltenham for Evan means everything, he’s backed me through thick and thin from a 10lb claimer. It’s fantastic.’
Jockey Adam Wedge branded Coole Cody as ‘hard as they come’ following the race