Williams Keen On Big-Race Bid

Evan Williams believes the hurly-burly of a big-race field will bring out the best in Deep Purple.

The seven-year-old lost his unbeaten record over hurdles when finishing a length and three-quarters behind Breedsbreeze in the Tolworth Hurdle.

However, Williams is still set on a crack at the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and expects the sizeable field to be a help to his charge.

'On decent ground this fellow is no back-number,' said the trainer.

'He wants a war and a race like the Supreme should be perfect for him with 10 in with a chance at the second-last.

'That's why we gave him the option of the totesport Trophy and he'll never have a weight like he'll have in that again, so we'll keep our options open.

'I'll never say never to a race like that (totesport Trophy) but Cheltenham is what I've got my eye on.'

Although Deep Purple suffered his first defeat over obstacles at Sandown, Williams was far from disheartened with his charge's performance in what he saw as a true Grade One race.

He added: 'They went a really good clip but if they are top-class horses they should see it out. That's the difference between those that are top class and those that aren't, and I think the first two are.

'It might sound silly but every time we run this horse he comes home a better horse and the way he has come out of the race makes me think he has improved a bit.'

Deep Purple is a 20-1 shot for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

(C) PA Sport