News Digest/ GOLD CUP: Evan Williams basked in the glory of his biggest career success after saddling State Of Play to a resounding victory in the 50th running of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.
Three years after taking out a full licence, the 35-year-old hit the jackpot when his six-year-old lugged 11st 4lb through the mud to land the prestigious £150,000 contest by an easy four lengths.
Paul Moloney had crept round the inside on the easy-to-back 10 to 1 chance and set him alight at the third-last before surging clear, leaving Juveigneur (12 to 1) to chase him home.
Preacher Boy was nine lengths back in third and Omni Cosmo Touch three-quarters of a length away in fourth.
State Of Play entered the arena on the back of a 232-day lay-off, having romped home by 16 lengths on his most recent outing at Aintree, but the absence did not show and he travelled best of all four fences out. Williams was overjoyed with the performance, believing his charge will improve from the race and predicting big things for the future.
Bookmakers are taking his chances seriously, with the sponsors quoting him at 14 to 1 for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, the same price as Ladbrokes and Blue Square, while Cashmans, Stan James and VC Bet are all 16s.
The Welsh trainer said: "He is in the King George, but I don't see him as a Kempton horse and we wouldn't go there unless the rains came. I am not going to say where we are going or what we are doing now. I will get him home and let this sink in."
Montgermont, sent off the 9 to 2 favourite, had caught the eye heading into the straight but faded to finish seventh and trainer Charles Egerton had him scoped after the race.
Only eight of the 16 runners completed and one of those to be pulled up was recent Carlisle winner Turpin Green, who clattered the first fence and was never travelling thereafter, with Tony Dobbin taking him out of the race before the 12th.
JAPAN CUP: Deep Impact bounced back to his brilliant best to claim the Japan Cup yesterday with Ouija Board far from disgraced in third. The Japanese superstar finished third on his last start in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe before subsequently being disqualified and Yutake Take adopted his usual tactics on Deep Impact of dropping out to the rear of the field, ones that he surprisingly abandoned at Longchamp.
Frankie Dettori was sat just in front on Ouija Board but Take unleashed the four-year-old down the outside and he swept into a lead he was never to relinquish.
Ed Dunlop's brave mare put up another bold performance, although the combination of a stiff 12 furlongs and her incredible schedule may have just taken its toll. Her season already includes a Royal Ascot win, a victory in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and a second Breeders' Cup success.
