Ian Williams celebrates full set of wins at British racecourses
Saturday 6 September 2014 17:10, UK
Trainer Ian Williams was celebrating a full set of wins at British racecourses as Cruise Tothelimit landed the Barkers of Northallerton Handicap at Thirsk.
Midlands-based Williams admitted the achievement was something of a "personal holy grail" after the six-year-old triumphed in the hands of 5lb claimer George Downing.
He said: "Since Alarico won at Lingfield on January 28, 1997, I have managed to secure at least one winner at all the currently operational racecourses in England, Wales and Scotland, and also managed to saddle winners at the now-defunct Folkestone and Hereford.
"This has been, until today, with one exception, Thirsk. The small town in North Yorkshire with a population of less than 5,000, is the one racecourse that had failed to provide me a winner and it's not as if I've not tried!
"Since Prairie Law ran down the field in September 2004, I have sent many runners on the long road to Thirsk without success. But today, the wonderfully consistent Cruise Tothelimit completed the full set - a winner at every UK racecourse!"