'Keep trying and you'll get there' - Williams' luck turns with gutsy Coole Cody

Evan Williams finally cracked the Paddy Power Gold Cup with Coole Cody, who rode his luck at a number of fences but refused to be passed under a ballsy front-running ride from Tom O'Brien.

Williams, who had saddled old favourite Buywise to finish second, third and fifth in the race in the past, was hardly winning one the biggest handicap chases of the season out of turn, although the winner's race could easily have ended prematurely.

Left in front soon after the first fence fall of Siruh Du Lac, Coole Cody sprawled on landing at the fourth and took both the third and second-last by the roots, yet his bravery or momentum could not be dimmed as he resisted all challengers.

"These are hard races to win and we're normally second, third or fourth in them, but If you keep trying you'll get there in the end," said the winning trainer.

"Adam Wedge [stable jockey] is out injured and it's a shame for him. But Tom has ridden loads of winners for me over the years and it's nice to get a big one on the board.

"His run here last time told me more than enough and Adam, who rode him that day, said if we go back over that trip we want to be very aggressive with him.

"I wouldn't have thought to have gone about things in this way, that's why a good stable jockey is so important and Adam put the plan into action. Without his input, we wouldn't have had the result today, so I am very grateful to him."

He added: "His owners Mr and Mrs Clifford put an awful lot into the game. They breed a lot of horses and put in a lot of money, so it is great we can repay them with a good win."

Coole Cody (right) stays on gamely to hold off Spiritofthegames (left) and Sky PirateCredit: Edward Whitaker

With Wedge on the sidelines with a broken collarbone, Williams turned to an old ally in O'Brien, who must have had superglue on his breeches to keep the partnership intact, and victory clearly meant a huge deal as he initially struggled to find the words to describe the winning moment.

"I'm absolutely delighted," said the rider. "Thank you very much to the Evan Williams team, but I'm sorry for Wedgey who I'm stepping in for. My good opportunities are few and far between but I like to think I take them when I get them."

He added: "I got into a good rhythm bar slipping and I managed to get him filled up at the right times and thankfully he held on. Since he's joined Evan he's really taken off and Evan really fancied him"

The winner was not the only one to make a bad mistake, with Sky Pirate almost coming down at the second-last when looking poised to lay down a challenge.

Last year's winner Happy Diva and the well-fancied Saint Sonnet were both fallers at the second-last, but both appeared to emerge unscathed.

Paddy Power Gold Cup full result and replay

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