Bookmakers Wary Of State Rule

State Of Play was cut to 16-1 from 20-1 for totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup glory by Coral yesterday as Evan Williams looked to the future with his stable star.

The progressive six-year-old jumped into the reckoning for Festival honours after storming to an impressive success in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.

His Welsh trainer is now considering the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock on February 17 as the next port of call on the way to a possible crack at the blue riband next March.

'It was unbelievable, a massive day for the yard,' said Williams as he reflected on his biggest career success.

'You can never be too confident in a race like the Hennessy, but it was just one of those days.

'His preparation had gone so well, as I had told everybody, and the rain that came, which everybody else was scared of, only made me happier really, it made it a true test of stamina.

'We planned the race and even that went to perfection. It was one of those days ? everything went well which very rarely happens in racing.

'He ate up very well (after the race). I gave him his breakfast this and he was a little bit picky, which was normal for him. All his legs are cold, he's had a pick of grass and the horse has come out of the race very well, as well as you could ever expect a horse to come out of a race like that.'

Williams boldly chose to go to the Hennessy without a prep run, but his plan paid off in style.

'The hardest decision we had to make was whether to give him a run or not. A lot of people said we should have given him a spin over hurdles, but these good horses only have so many runs in them.

'I didn't want to run him just for the sake of it.

'When they race at a high level it does take a lot out of them, physically and mentally. I always said that if it didn't go right in the Hennessy my objective was longer term than just this autumn and we were looking to the bigger prizes in the spring.

'I don't think it will be his last handicap, though. Obviously he is the best horse I have trained and we dream of Gold Cups and the like, but the bare mathematics show that we still have a bit to find with the top performers.

'I suppose the most sensible thing we can do is run him in another handicap somewhere and see if we can be competitive off his revised mark, and if we can do that then he must be a Gold Cup contender.

'He has got plenty of pace and his jumping is well up to scratch, then all you need is a big chunk of luck.

'I don't have a definite target in mind. He is in the Welsh National but that would be doubtful now, he is a bit too good. The Red Square Chase at Haydock is a possibility as that would fit in well if we were planning to get him to the Gold Cup in March.

'The King George is a possibility, but with my head ruling my heart the Haydock race would suit him better.'

(C) PA Sport