We all have our favorites on the track, but it’s not always easy to keep track of what they’re up to once their racing days are over. In a new series from the Racing Post, we catch up Cool Cody . . .

Coole Cody’s love affair with Cheltenham has grown stronger over time, so much so that 17 of his last 20 starts have come in the land of steeplechasing.

His association with the track began with a shock 25-1 handicap hurdle in 2017 for Michael Blake, but he later joined Evan Williams and has become a fixture in the track’s two-and-a-half mile handicap series.

It was a spell that was triggered when he picked up the Paddy Power Gold Cup in 2020, and he continued to perform admirably before adding the December Gold Cup on his CV the following winter.

But the biggest moment was yet to come. He was fired in contradiction with 22-1 for the plate at the 2022 Cheltenham Festivalbut he ridiculed his doubters to come home by six and a half lengths under Adam Wedge.

This proved to be his last success at Cheltenham, although he had one final victory at the age of 11, beating Saint Calvados in a match race in the 1965 Grade 2 Chase at Ascot.

Coole Cody not out to catch Paddy Power Gold Cup 2020Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The 42 starts took place in the silks of Wayne Cliffordwho now looks after Coole Cody in his retirement, with the old boy spending his time overseeing the next generation of ownership.

Williams said: “Coole Cody is doing very well and is having a great time with Mr. and Mrs. Clifford. He is out with all his foals and yearlings looking after them. It’s a great job for him and he is made for this because he always liked being a bit of a boss.

“I guess he was like that in his races too, we had so many good days with him. It was the most enjoyable career and what was great about him was he had a wonderful constitution ‘It’s not easy in these big races at Cheltenham, but he was able to keep coming back and running his race.’

Williams named the Paddy Power Gold Cup win as his highlight among Coole Cody’s nine victories and said: “The festival was great but that was the one for me. It was just a brilliant day. I Would also say that the Gold Cup in December was pretty special because his regular jockey Adam Wedge was able to ride him.

Read more here:

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