raced wide, held up in touch, headway to track leading pair 12th, closed going strongly on bit to lead 2 out, soon clear, readily
held up, not fluent 9th (water), headway 12th, driven along after 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd run-in but no chance with winner
tracked leader to 5th, stayed prominent, jumped slow 12th, weakened after 4 out, well behind when pulled up before last
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd 5th, mistake 10th, ridden and mistake next, weakened after 12th
reluctant to go to post, made most, ridden after 3 out, headed 2 out, soon no chance with winner and lost 2nd run-in
tracked leaders in 4th, went 2nd 11th until 2 out, soon weakened
never going well in rear, ridden 8th, driven along 10th, soon well behind
Taranis should take all the beating ahead of Amicelli, with Shining Strand best of the rest. Taranis has crept to the top of the handicap on the back of some solid efforts thus far, and in fact would probably be unbeaten over fences had he not blundered away his chance at Doncaster in December. After scoring at Ludlow in January he had a wind operation and was not expected to be fully fit for his return at Wincanton last month but hacked up by nine lengths. With that in mind he will be even fitter now and will prove hard to pass in his bid to defy topweight. Main danger to the Paul Nicholls fancy is likely to be Amicelli who gained a workmanlike success at Hereford in March and who will be suited by the ground. Shining Strand was sent off as favourite at Newbury last time but disappointed and is one to treat with caution as he has a mind of his own. The rest make little appeal and Taranis should have a simple task.
Taranis (FR) 4-9fav (11-3) Chased leader, took closer order 13th, led approaching 3 out, shaken up approaching last, quickened clear flat, easily, won at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (3) sft in Mar beating Handy Money (10-12) by 9l, 4 ran.
Amicelli (GER) 4-11fav (11-3) In touch, headway 5th, led 3 out, ridden out, won at Hereford 3m 1f beg chs (4) gd in Mar beating Monteforte (11-3) by 8l, 8 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.
Florida Dream (IRE) 40-1 (10-4) Led and jumped right, headed 15th, pecked 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 21, 23l behind You're Special (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Shining Strand 2-1fav (11-12) Tracked leader, ridden 3 out, hit last, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 14l behind Stavordale Lad (11-7) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Mighty Matters (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Prominent, led after 13th, ridden 4 out, headed 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 12l behind East Lawyer (10-11) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Jan.
Iris's Prince 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, kept on from 4 out, took 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 19l behind Kercabellec (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Mar.
