chased leader, took closer order 13th, led approaching 3 out, shaken up approaching last, quickened clear flat, easily
held up last, not fluent 1st, 3rd when mistake 12th, headway 13th, joined winner approaching 3 out, soon outpaced, kept on same pace
led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, kept on same pace
prominent, lost place 3rd, mistake 10th, ridden 11th, behind from 12th
Nonrunner
Taranis should easily land this, with Thistlecraft and Royal Acadou taken to follow him home. Taranis made the most of his four-year-old allowance to hand out a nine-length beating to Escompteur on his chase debut at Newbury last October, a result that was totally expected by Paul Nicholls as the French import had reportedly been jumping like an old and at home. He was partnered by Ruby Walsh then but got rid of Christian Williams at the fifth fence when fancied to make a race of it with Chilling Place (who also came to grief) at Doncaster next time. However, he duly made amends under Tony McCoy at Ludlow on his next outing in January, a performance that was all the better considering that the trip and track conformation would not really have suited him, and with Ruby back up here he will take all the beating. Thistlecraft won well enough at Fakenham to be considered for the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase at the Festival but missed Cheltenham after being pulled up in his prep race at Huntingdon. He will do well to give weight to the selection on his return, while Royal Acadou has a lot more experience over fences but has yet to win on these shores. All in all, the progressive Taranis fits the bill.
Taranis (FR) 4-7fav (11-3) In touch, ridden 3 out, led 2 out, ran on, won at Ludlow 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Jan beating Dickensbury Lad (11-3) by 3l, 9 ran.
Handy Money 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, jumped right and weakened 4 out, jumped right next, 6th and no chance when pulled up 2 out in race won by Idole First (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 1f beg chs (3) gs in Feb, 8 ran.
Royale Acadou (FR) 8-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, led 11th, headed 2 out, kept on reluctantly, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Nice Try (11-10) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) sft.
Waimea Bay 7-2 (10-10) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 3 out, led and edged left last, all out, won at Uttoxeter 2m mrs nov hdl (E) gf in May '04 beating Half Inch (10-6) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Thistlecraft (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 10th, left 4th 12th, ridden to chase winner 4 out, every chance soon after 3 out, blundered next and pulled up at the last in race won by Cruising River (11-0) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb, 11 ran.
