Evan keeps Coole after Festival joy
THE Welsh highlight of the Cheltenham Festival was the victory of Coole Cody for Vale of Glamorgan trainer Evan Williams and owner Wayne Clifford.
Williams described the horse as “an absolute warrior” after he landed the Craft Irish Whiskey Plate.
Coole Cody has now won almost £300,000 in prize money which includes success in three major Cheltenham handicaps since November 2020.
The gelding, who was ridden by Adam Wedge, didn’t win a novice chase until he was nine. Now he’s 11, and for a horse of that age to have the enthusiasm and ability to rally after being headed is a testament to Williams’s training skills.
It was Williams’s first Festival success and a second for Wedge, who travelled to Kempton on Saturday to steer Emma Lavelle’s Killer Clown to victory.
Wedge rode Lisnagar Oscar to win the Stayers’ Hurdle for Rebecca Curtis two years ago. Curtis should be credited for running two horses in last week’s National Hunt Chase when no other British trainer took on the Irish. Her horses had little chance, but they completed the course and picked up £12,000 in prize money.
On Saturday James Bowen rode Issuing Authority to win the Uttoxeter bumper for Nicky Henderson. The next day at Chepstow he was leading on stablemate Emir Sacree when nearly sent into orbit at the last fence due to his mount’s clumsiness, but the partnership was preserved and he won quite easily.
Results at Chepstow went well for other Welsh jockeys.
Richard Patrick won the opener on Pimlico Point and the 3m 2f chase went to Gats And Co for David and Connor Brace.
Lorcan Williams won the mares’ hurdle in a canter aboard Kissesforkatie. He waited until the final flight before asking her to take the lead. Williams used different tactics in the bumper, making all the running on the favourite Knowsley Road.
Our next fixture at Ffos Las is today (March 23) when students from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David will be assisting with the management of the racecourse as part of an academic project related to hospitality and tourism.
Gates open at 11.55am and there are seven races from 1.55pm. Tickets are £17 in advance and £19 on the day.
Restaurant packages are also available and can be booked via the website. We then race on April 7 and April 17.