Play To State Hennessy Case

State Of Play is firmly on course to make his seasonal reappearance in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

Evan Williams' six-year-old has not run since notching a hugely impressive 16-length success at Aintree's Grand National meeting in April.

State Of Play, then a novice, beat subsequent Betfred Gold Cup winner Lacdoudal in convincing style and Williams is unconcerned by the gelding's lack of a prep run.

'He's very, very well. He's summered really well and this has been the target since about June and I couldn't have wished for things to go any better than they have ? we just hope it continues until Saturday,' he said.

'Everybody asks if I'm concerned about starting first time in the Hennessy but it's really the logical place to start him.

'There's plenty of big races to look forward to over the season so I don't see the point in giving him a run just for the sake of it.

'My horses usually turn out pretty fit the first time and three mile two (furlongs) on a nice flat track made it the obvious target.'

State Of Play won three of his four starts over fences last term with his only defeat coming in the Grade One Feltham Novices' Chase.

Last year's winner Trabolgan was also a second-season chaser, as was King's Road, who took the race in 2000 and Williams is suitably encouraged by the trend.

'Looking back over the horses that have won the race in the past, he does look to be the right type for the race,' explained the Llancarfan handler.

'It is a very competitive race and the weights have gone up so I don't want to get too hung up on the Hennessy, there's plenty more to look forward to with this horse.'

Although Williams has entered State Of Play for the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, he is reluctant to commit to any targets at present.

He added: 'I just want to see how he goes on this week first but I've always thought he was a Welsh National type for the future.'

(C) PA Sport