Evan Williams is eyeing up an ambitious tile at the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day with Deep Purple after he proved his stamina in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

Having proved his class around the two and a half mile-mark last season, Williams took the bold decision to step him up in trip for this Grade Two event.

And after out-staying Tamarinbleu and the gallant Ollie Magern, Williams and stable jockey Paul Moloney are dreaming of preventing Kauto Star racking up a four-timer in the Christmas showpiece.

He has been given a 20-1 quote by William Hill, who make Kauto Star their 10-11 favourite.

"That was the plan and it is nice when it comes off especially when some were questioning what I was doing running him over three miles," said Williams.

"The Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon is definitely a possibility and we will put him in the King George at Kempton, he won't go near Cheltenham as he is a flat track horse."

Fair Along bounced back to something like his best form with a convincing success under Rhys Flint in the John Smith's Hurdle and trainer Philip Hobbs' wife Sarah said: "It is fantastic to see him coming back.

"He never got his own way in the Cesarewitch, but Rhys knows him so well and gave him a great ride and we will look at all the good long distant hurdles."

Ladbrokes gave him a 20-1 quote for the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Santia (8-1), helped by one of the joint-favourites My Petra taking the wrong course (her rider Barry Geraghty was suspended for 12 days, November 14-25) won the Best Odds Guaranteed Mares' Hurdle in the hands of Robert Thornton.

Trainer Alan King's assistant Noel Williams said: "She is so tough and there have been genuine excuses when she has been beaten.

"It is great that she has got some black type and there was the suggestion before the race that she would be retired now and I think that may be the case."

The Ollie Magern team had better luck when Rory Boy won the Simon Barlow Novices' Handicap Chase in the hands of Paddy Brennan.

Twiston-Davies said: "He had lost his way a bit over hurdles so we decided to school him over fence and he was electric.

"There was a very handy weight allowance (for four-year-olds) so we thought we would have a go and we will keep him going while he has that allowance."

The Micky Hammond-trained Mr Crystal completed the set when he won the bet365.com Beginners' Chase in decisive fashion under conditional Fearghal Davis.

"He is a grand horse for us, and he has now won on the Flat, over hurdles and over fences," said Hammond.

Skylancer completed a hat-trick in the Hold Your Christmas Party Here Novices' Hurdle under Thornton.

"Skylancer has done nothing but improve since he had a wind operation," said winning trainer James Lambe.

"He has got the pedigree to go on and hopefully it is onwards and upwards with him now - I wouldn't want to run him on ground as soft as this but if we found some good ground somewhere I would look for a Grade One race for him."

Fell Pack was put down after sustaining a serious spinal injury while third placed Manor Park broke down.