Evan Williams plays weighting game over National hope

Aintree agenda: State Of Play is unlikely to tackle the larger obstacles this season until the Grand National

13 April 2012

Classy chaser State Of Play is unlikely to be seen over fences until he runs in the Grand National, according to his trainer Evan Williams.

The nine-year-old won the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last November and had just one subsequent run before finishing fourth to Mon Mome in the Aintree spectacular in April.

The news comes just days after trainer Gordon Elliott said his leading National hope, Backstage, would also run over hurdles until Aintree to prevent the seven-year-old rising up the weights.

Williams said: "State Of Play's whole season will be geared around the Grand National. He jumped and travelled so well round there last season and it has been in the back of my mind just give him a couple of runs over hurdles beforehand.

"Like Gordon is doing, the sensible thing is to protect State Of Play's handicap mark and, if he gets 10st-something, there's a real possibility he can win the National."

The South Glamorgan handler also revealed he is aiming Cheltenham Festival winner Cappa Bleu at the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November.

The imposing seven-year-old landed the Foxhunter Chase with ease before joining Williams from Sheila Crowe in the summer.

He said: "I think we'll give him a couple of novice chases and then he should be nicely treated for the Hennessy, but we wouldn't want to risk him on quicker ground."

Deep Purple, who won two Grade 2 races last season, is likely to step up in trip this term.

"There are so many options for him, but the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon over two-and- a-half miles would be right up his street.

"I'm keen that he'll run over three miles this season, so the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby or Exeter's Haldon Gold Cup are also possible starting points," Williams added.

"We've got some nice young horses and no-one should forget about Simarian. It is not going to be easy for him as a four-year-old, but he holds his best form for Cheltenham and is a good prospect."

Evan Williams plays weighting game over National hope

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