Tataniano blitzes them in Maghull

Tataniano ran out a very impressive winner of the John Smith's Maghull Novices' Chase for Nicholls and Ruby Walsh.

Andy Stewart's six-year-old was ante-post favourite for the Arkle for much of the winter but after an odds-on defeat at Newbury he missed Cheltenham.

However, the 100-30 chance seemed to relish the much better ground on Merseyside and having taken up the running at halfway, nothing could get near him.

Osana, third in the Arkle, ran another brave race to finish second but the gap was a yawning 13 lengths. Irish raider Archie Boy stayed on for third.

Walsh said: "The ground was a big factor for him. He won in Cheltenham last April and I said to Paul then this will be some two-mile chaser.

"He got beaten in very heavy ground at Newbury and then he wasn't right on the run-up to Cheltenham.

"He was thrown in for a handicap here but we just thought a few of the novices have been to Cheltenham and Sizing Europe wasn't coming so we thought why not have a go at the Grade One?

"He jumped super and put them to the sword a long way out."

Nicholls said: "He jumps well and he loves this fast ground in the spring. "The best thing that ever happened was that it rained at Cheltenham and we didn't run him. He wasn't right then.

"He's just got better and better. This ground suits him and if it dries up in two weeks' time, I guess we'll go to Punchestown with him.

"I can't wait to run him in the Tingle Creek. I think he'll be brilliant over the Railway fences there."

Owner Stewart added: "This is the third time we've won this race. We won it with Le Roi Miguel and Cenkos, so it's been a lucky race for us.

"Cenkos won the Tingle Creek for us and hopefully that is where this fellow will be going next season."

Edward O'Grady, trainer of the runner-up, said: "He's run a very good race and I've no excuses.

"We'll consider going to Punchestown as he's a horse who doesn't take a lot out of himself.

"He's been holding his form really well but the winner was just too good on the day."

Paul Flynn, a former jockey with Philip Hobbs and now a trainer in Ireland, said of Archie Boy: "I'm pleased to be back, we have had a good few winners over here but this is my first big-race runner.

"I was very worried down the back when he lost his place and he might be better by pressing on from the outset and he would have kept on all the way if he had done.

"He may go to Punchestown, it is over two miles but it is a stiff two miles. If we don't go there there is nothing more for him in the summer. He will improve for that."