DEEP PURPLE will not head to Merseyside just yet in a bid to land a Grade One Chase.

Evan Williams’s eight-year-old proved he stays three miles with a battling victory in Saturday’s Grade Two bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

The Betfair Chase at Haydock later this month would appear the viable next step, but Williams is keen to avoid dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kauto Star as he bids for Grade One glory.

The totesport Bowl at Aintree’s John Smith’s Grand National meeting next April is the long-term aim for Deep Purple.

After beating Tamarinbleu and Ollie Magern at Wetherby on Saturday, Williams is hoping to take advantage of Deep Purple’s love of a sound surface and a flat track.

The gelding will now ply his trade in some of the top steeplechases throughout the season. But with the Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star heading for Haydock’s Grade One contest two weeks on Saturday before defending his King George crown at Kempton on Boxing Day, those two races will be bypassed by Deep Purple.

Welsh trainer Williams said: “It was a great result. He’s fine, he’s as fresh as a daisy. He’s been out for a pick of grass and he’s absolutely A1. It opens up a few more options for us.

“Races like the Peterborough Chase (Huntingdon, November 19) are just what he wants. The King George is a different kettle of fish.

“The ground and the track would suit but Grade Ones like that are very difficult to win, but he does deserve to go for race like that.

“We could just box a bit clever and go on a Kauto Star avoidance scheme and go something like the Peterborough, then the Aon (at Newbury, February 13).

“That could be a more sensible thing to do other than rolling up at Kempton and taking horses like him on. He will have entries everywhere and we’ll see where we go.

“I think he is a genuine Grade Two horse in that he can carry penalties in those races and still win. That’s invaluable.

“I think he will win a Grade One somewhere and I suppose the Aintree race (totesport Bowl) would have to be the target in the spring.

“The others will knock seven bells out of each other at Cheltenham and he won’t go there, so we could go to Aintree with a fresh horse. We know he wants a flat track and a sound surface.

“Punchestown might suit him as well.

“I’d be keen for him to get a Grade One – he deserves it.”

Kauto Star was confirmed to be on course for his seasonal seasonal reappearance in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 21.

Connections were mulling over the idea of a bid at winning a second JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal this weekend.

But owner Clive Smith confirmed: “All being well we’re going to go to Haydock with him.

“The horse is fine and in good shape and all being well, Haydock is on the agenda.”

TODAY’S NAP: Bouggler (2.30pm Kempton)