 Taranis was the supposed second string for Nicholls |
Taranis returned from a 766-day absence to win the Argento Chase at Cheltenham for champion trainer Paul Nicholls. The former Ryanair Chase winner defied odds of 16-1 to land a six-length success under Nick Scholfield. Carruthers, the 7-4 favourite made one significant blunder in the 3m1f race and finished second while Joe Lively (7-1) was third. Former Arkle Chase winner Tidal Bay emerged as a World Hurdle contender with victory in the Cleeve Hurdle. The 14-1 chance, trained by Howard Johnson and ridden by Brian Hughes, finished ahead of Time for Rupert (11-2) and former champion hurdler Katchit (8-1). It was a day for former Festival winners to return to form, with Taranis and Tidal Bay - both aged nine - performing at the scene of their greatest triumphs. Taranis had been off the track since breaking down in the 2007 King George VI Chase at Kempton.  | 606: DEBATE |
Scholfield said: "He's given me a great ride the whole way round and it's some training performance as he's been off the track for so, so long." The winner's better-fancied stablemate Inchidaly Rock fell with more than a circuit to run. One bookmaker cut Taranis to 33-1 from 100-1 for the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on 19 March, for which Nicholls already has the favourites Kauto Star and Denman. "He'll go straight for the Gold Cup now," said Nicholls. "He's a very good horse, but to say I am surprised is an understatement." Saturday's meeting at Doncaster, which was due to feature the Skybet Chase, was abandoned due to a frozen track.
Argento Chase 1 Taranis (N Scholfield) 16-1
2 Carruthers (Matthew Batchelor) 7-4f
3 Joe Lively (J Tizzard 9-1)
7 ran. Dist: 6, 1½ Cleeve Hurdle 1 Tidal Bay (B Hughes) 14-1
2 Time For Rupert (W Kennedy) 11-2
3 Katchit (W Hutchinson) 8-1
7 ran
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