Taranis enters Gold Cup reckoning

Taranis returned from a 766-day absence to land the Argento Chase in the hands of Nick Scholfield.

Paul Nicholls' nine-year-old had been off the track since breaking down in the 2007 King George VI Chase at Kempton and was sent off at 16-1 for this belated reappearance.

His better fancied stablemate Inchidaly Rock came to grief with over a circuit to run but Taranis was always travelling ominously well.

Favourite Carruthers and last year's winner Joe Lively led him into the straight but Scholfield exuded confidence and only had to keep his mount up to his work after the last to score by six lengths.

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.

"I was travelling so well and the last thing Ruby (Walsh) said to me before I went out was if I had a chance, don't hit the front too soon.

"I've arrived there way too early, but there was plenty in the tank and people forget he's a Ryanair Chase winner."

Sky Bet cut Taranis to 20-1 from 66-1 for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Nicholls said: "I didn't expect that but he is a dual Grade One winner so it's just a question of whether they retain the ability.

"He will go straight for the Gold Cup now as he wants that sort of trip.

"I had half a mind of entering him in the Grand National so I will have to discuss it with the owner. He does jump well so it would be interesting to see what sort of weight he would get."