Cheltenham Festival 2019: Croco Bay causes massive shock to land Grand Annual at 66-1
CROCO BAY rolled back the years with a tough-as-teak victory in the Grand Annual Chase.
Ben Case’s hardy veteran was game as a pebble from the front and fought off all-comers to land the win – at odds of 66-1.
Under an inspired front-running ride from Kielan Woods, the massive outsider just prevailed in a thriller.
With four in with a shout at the last, it appeared the twelve-year-old would get swamped as both Bun Doran and Forest Bihan came with withering runs – but neither could lay a hand on the leader, who held on in gritty fashion.
The 66-1 winner was one of a number of shocks on the final day of the Festival, following on from Minella Indo’s 50-1 success in the Albert Bartlett and 20-1 shot Pentland Hills’ victory in the Triumph.
The thrilled winning rider said: “I’ve been dreaming of this even since I’ve sat on a horse. As the years go on you think it might never happened.
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“It feels weird but in a good way. We popped out and got handy and I couldn’t believe how well he was jumping down the back.
“He was meeting Gino Trail at every jump. I kicked on three out and thought they were going to catch me but we winged two out and the last. I can’t believe it.
“He’s been off for nearly a year and it’s an amazing training performance.”