Evan Williams thinking of Aintree for Evening Hush

Evan Williams has earmarked the Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle at the Randox Health Grand National Festival as the long-term aim for Evening Hush.The Llancarfan handler is keen to swerve an outing at the Cheltenham Festival in March with the four-year-old, in favour of a shot at the Grade One at Aintree the following month.Having won her first two starts over hurdles, the former Ken Condon-trained mare found only current JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Defi Du Seuil too strong on her first start at the top level at Chepstow last month.Williams said: "She is a filly I have always thought a lot of. Her performance at Aintree was special."I was not disappointed with her Chepstow run as he (Defi Du Seuil) smashed us. Sometimes you can give excuses when a horse doesn't win, but you have got to take your hat off to that horse."I still can't believe he demolished us -I think our filly is a Grade One horse and if you take the winner out, she is a Grade One-winning filly. "We might go straight to Aintree now for the four-year-old hurdle and let the others have a crack at each other in the big races at Cheltenham."I may end up entering her at Cheltenham next weekend, but I would like to keep her fresh for Aintree, although that is a long time away."