Jamie Codd stuck on brilliantly in the closing stages of the Champion Bumper to ensure gambled-on favourite Envoi Allen (2/1) closed out a fantastic day for punters on Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival.
The Wexford jockey managed to salvage every ounce out of the Gordon Elliott trained gelding as the Barry Geraghty mounted Blue Sari made terrific late strides on his quarters, eventually getting the line to delight the ecstatic masses.
It was a pivotal personal milestone for the amateur rider - his ninth Cheltenham victory, and his second of this year's festival having steered Le Breuil to victory for Ben Pauling yesterday in the National Hunt Challenge Cup.
An emotional Codd gave a highly charged interview to Racing TV as the lights went down on Prestbury Park on a wonderful Wednesday.
It's been an emotional week for @CoddJJ who lost his brother last year. "I hope he's very proud of me," says the brilliant Irish amateur who's had a winner on each day so far
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➡ https://t.co/1zRd0UHgw6 pic.twitter.com/L0gcjdXvQc— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 13, 2019
A month prior to last year's Festival, Codd lost brother and trainer William at the age of 43.
Flanked by his parents Billy and Mary Francis, Jamie paid tribute to his late sibling, who he described as one of his "big supporters".
It's an emotional day.
We've had a tough year. I lost my brother last year. He's up there looking down at us today. I hope he's very proud.
It's brilliant to have Mam and Dad here. William was a big supporter of mine. He was here two years ago.
God I wish he was here. I wish he was here.
Codd's victory this evening capped a fantastic day for favourite-backers, with no less than four romping to victory after the bookies had the best of a stinging Tuesday for gamblers.
Festival banker Altior (4/11) was forced to show every bit of class he had in claiming the Champion Chase for the third year in a row. Nico de Boinville rallied the Nicky Henderson trained superstar in the dying strides to get the better of the battling Politologue (11/1) and Sceau Royale (16/1).
That preceded a much-needed victory for the Gigginstown colours as Tiger Roll (5/4) claimed the gruelling Cross Country coming home a full 22 lengths clear of Josies Orders (15/2) in second.
Prior to that victory, Gordon Elliott had been having a surprisingly lean festival. But all of a sudden the Meath trainer found himself right in the thick of things.
Coko Beach (14/1) was heartbreakingly nabbed late on by another favourite in the shape of Joseph O'Brien schooled Band of Outlaws (7/2) - the 25-year-old trainers first Cheltenham success.
Codd's victory on Envoi Allen - his second consecutive victory in the lucky last this week - cherry-topped a fantastic three race streak for the Longwood stable, with City Island (8/1) winning the Ballymore Novices and Topofthegame (4/1) clinching the RSA Chase earlier in the day.
