Evan Williams says his representative, Deep Purple, will be entering unknown territory when he bids to saddle the winner of Saturday’s Charlie Hall Chase for a second-successive year.

Deep Purple is the 5/2 favourite with Betfred, ahead of the Sir Alex Ferguson-owned What A Friend (3/1), in what looks to be an open renewal, despite never having competed over the trip.

The eight-year-old was one of last season’s leading novice chasers, winning two Grade 2 events, including his latest start at Ayr where he made all to slam the highly-rated I’msingingtheblues by nine lengths.

However, that victory was over two-and-a-half miles and the gelding will be stepping up to tackle a stamina-sapping three miles and a furlong at Wetherby, which is a concern to his South Wales-based trainer.

“He is bang on course for the Charlie Hall and is in serious form. The only concern is the trip because he’s never been that far, but we won’t know until he runs over it,” said Williams.

Williams believes the current good to firm ground will be in Deep Purple’s favour and says it is a case of ‘the faster the better’ for his young chaser.

The trainer has a good record in the Charlie Hall – having finished runner up to Ollie Magern (7/2) in 2007, his State Of Play went one better last year. The winner subsequently showed he had not stamina issues by finishing fourth in the Grand National (25/1 in the 2010 Grand National betting) behind Mon Mome and Williams will hope his stablemate possesses similar qualities.

A full list of Charlie Hall Chase odds is available in Betfred’s horse racing betting section.