TARANIS WINS AT CHELTENHAM
ABOVE: Taranis claimed victory at Cheltenham
31st January 2010
By Patrick Weaver
RUBY WALSH fell for the oldest trick in the book at Cheltenham.
Presented with a straight choice between a proven Grade One performer in Taranis and a leading novice, Paul Nicholls’ jock went for the novice - Inchidaly Rock.
The official handicapper must have wondered what Walsh was thinking of before the race, as Taranis is rated 5lb higher than Inchidaly Rock, and yet was getting 3lb from him.
Ruby Walsh wrongfooted punters too – Taranis went off 16-1 while his own mount, which slipped up, went off at 11-4. The moral for backers is never plump for a novice over a horse that has beaten Our Vic and been running against the likes of Monet’s Garden.
Nick Scholfield had Taranis settled beautifully before presenting him up-sides Carruthers on the turn for home. Fitness could have been an issue from that point but he galloped all the way to the line and will be back in March.
“He’ll go straight for the Gold Cup now,” said Nicholls. “He had a very bad injury after the King George in 2007 and his owner, Mrs Yeoman, has been really patient.
“He came back in on July 1 and it’s only now that he has run. With his legs, you couldn’t do any fast work and with an injury like that, you never know if they retain the ability.”
Tidal Bay was another back in the Cheltenham winners’ enclosure where he belongs. A winner of the top two-mile novices’ chase at the 2008 Festival, he was winning over three miles for the fi rst time – and over hurdles.
“This was the forgotten horse of the race and there weren’t too many Arkle winners in that field,” said winning jock Brian Hughes.
“He didn’t really like the ground but fair play to Howard (Johnson) and his team as they had him spot on and the horse dug very deep.” Johnson added: “He’ll be 10lb better if the ground dries up as he doesn’t like dead ground. He’s a quality horse and class always tells.
“When we tacked him up today, my head girl told me he was number 13 when he won the Arkle and he was number 13 today, so I thought that will do for me.”
Ladbrokes make Tidal Bay a 10-1 shot for the World Hurdle but he is 12-1 with Hills.
Your own profile, post pics, BLOG
Digg
StumbleUpon
del.icio.us
Newsvine
reddit
Print This Page
Email To A Friend
Contact Us
Get RSS
