'This is the ultimate' - Coole Cody and owner Wayne Clifford enjoy the trip

Saturday: Cheltenham

The unrivalled sensation of owning big winners at Cheltenham can get the better of anyone, as happened to Coole Cody’s owner Wayne Clifford.

His enthusiasm in the closing stages of the Racing Post Gold Cup resulted in him crashing to the floor and missing the final fence.

It was only a month ago on this very turf, the tenacious Coole Cody mercilessly hit the deck two out when leading in the Paddy Power. Clifford thought he would have won that race, which made this occasion so much sweeter.

It was familiar territory for Coole Cody once again. Adam Wedge positioned the Evan Williams-trained runner in his favoured spot in front as the ten-year-old delivered his trademark big and bold round of jumping while his challengers faded.

On the swing for home it was Midnight Shadow – the horse set to challenge, and subsequently win the Paddy Power after Coole Cody's fall – who loomed most dangerously, but Coole Cody was not handing over his position easily.

Watch Coole Cody win a thrilling Racing Post Gold Cup

Showjumper soon became showstopper as he bravely powered to the finish, meanwhile Clifford got a little too encapsulated by the thrilling closing stages.

“That was incredible,” Clifford said. “I started running up the hill myself and I slipped over on the floor, so I missed the last jump, there was just so much excitement. It was him coming up that hill, I knew when he got around the bend in front it’d take a very good one to stop him.”

As Clifford dusted himself off, Wedge and Coole Cody had delivered one final brave leap and maintained their two-length advantage to the line, with the fast-finishing Zanza snatching the runner-up spot from Midnight Shadow.

Clifford added: “We thought he would’ve won the Paddy Power; he’s a tough horse and he loves Cheltenham and nowhere else. He loves the hill. This is the ultimate, there’s nothing better.

"Winning at Cheltenham and in a race like this, there’s nothing like it. If you could take me anywhere in the world, this would be the place. It’s incredible.”

Coole Cody became only the ninth horse in history to land the November-December big handicap double and first since Exotic Dancer in 2006. These prestigious handicaps were the races Williams watched in his younger days, making Saturday a particularly special result for all involved.

“These big ones are sweet,” said the Welsh trainer, “especially with the history of these races. It’s the Mackeson, the Massey Ferguson and then roll on, I was brought up watching these races. I remember all the brilliant horses winning those races and being in the same context of them is just great.

The prize: Evan Williams (right) receives the Racing Post Gold CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

He added of the horse recording his seventh win: “With a lot of horses you’re very nervous and defensive after a fall; that’s your job to rebuild their confidence. This horse is almost the opposite; this horse has fallen on the floor and it’s just bounced off him. He’s a very angry character and he’d go to war with you every day, he’s just one of those types.”

Wedge had to watch Coole Cody win last season’s Paddy Power from the sidelines because of injury, but he was thrilled to enjoy a landmark day on the son of Dubai Destination. It was the pair’s first win together since his chasing debut at Newton Abbot in August 2020.

Fusil Raffles was the race’s significant gamble, his price of 10-1 earlier in the week shortened into 5-1 by the time of the race. The six-year-old – who was making his first start since picking up the pieces in the Charlie Hall after the fall of Shan Blue – made plenty of jumping errors but stayed on to finish fourth.

The race was, however, marred by the fatal injury of Dostal Phil. He was pulled up early on in the race by Aidan Coleman.

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