REDDITCH trainer Ian Williams is celebrating after Cool Sky claimed victory at Glorious Goodwood.
The eight-year-old duel-purpose gelding stayed on well in difficult conditions in the 2m 4f Matchbook Betting Exchange Goodwood Handicap.
Cool Sky, ridden by Josephine Gordon, made headway on the outside over two furlongs out, led inside the final furlong and stayed on to bag more than £31,000 in prize money for Williams and owners The Norte Sur Partnership.
After the race, Williams said he was close to declaring the horse a non-runner due to heavy rainfall on day two of the famous meeting.
He said: "It's quite bizarre really because if I'd have got here half and hour later I think I'd have probably taken him out.
"He's got some form on good to soft ground but he's never been as good over hurdles on real soft ground and I just thought the ground had got soft enough for him.
"But he's performed great and stayed nicely. He looked in a little bit in trouble with five to go but Josephine said he galloped all the way to the line so I'm delighted."
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