Williams: State will race again in National

State Of Play is to be prepared for a third crack at the John Smith’s Grand National following a second courageous effort at Aintree on Saturday.

The 10-year-old finished with a flourish to snatch third place and go one better than in 2009.

Now his trainer Evan Williams is already thinking about bringing him back next April.

“He’s fine, he’s grand, but he’s tired. He obviously put a lot into it,” said the Llancarfan handler. “The race was run at such a fast pace. It was a different race to last year. It was quite brutal out there, but he stayed on very well, that was the great thing.

“He was tapped for foot when they out on the second circuit, they quickened and then they quickened again.

“He just kept staying on and it was a brave performance by a very brave horse. He’s going to have a good, long holiday now.

“I did the silly thing and ran him in the Hennessy, so that may have taken the edge off him! Perhaps I ought to go there proper fresh with him next year. See if we can go straight there after 12 months. That might be the sensible thing to do!

“Plenty of 11-year-olds have a great record in the race. He’s been fourth and third and perhaps we can get him on the podium again. I think he’s improving with age.”