held up towards rear, headway 10th, ridden approaching 3 out, 4 lengths down when left in lead last, driven out
chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, chased leader approaching next, no impression flat
held up mid-diuvision, headway after 8th, stayed on from last
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division, headway 9th, went 2nd on bit approaching 2 out, led approaching last, 4 lengths clear when fell
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, ridden after 4 out, never dangerous
held up, jumped slowly 6th and 7th, soon well behind, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 4 out, kept on under pressure from last
held up towards rear, blundered when struggling 2 out, pulled up before last
chased leaders, led 11th, ridden approaching 3 out, headed approaching last, weakened flat
held up, blundered 10th, headway 4 out, one pace from 2 out
led, headed 11th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up towards rear, never dangerous, tailed off when pulled up before last
prominent until lost place 4th, soon tailed off
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
Taranis put up a smart performance when landing a Grade 1 chase at Down Royal on his reappearance, is hard to oppose returning to hurdles off what looks a very favourable mark and the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding gets the vote over Sonnyanjoe and Halcon Genelardais. The last mentioned was pulled up in the Gold Cup when last seen but is better than he showed at Cheltenham and, like the selection, can return to hurdles on a decent mark. Burntoakboy seems a shade high in the weights at present, while Millenium Royal may struggle to give weight away all round. Ungaro lost nothing in defeat behind L'Antartique at Carlisle last time and is another that is well treated returning to hurdles, while few are in better form than Irish raider Sonnyanjoe. Taranis stands out on recent evidence though and he is preferred.
Millenium Royal (FR) (10-8) Always struggling, 6th of 9, 30l behind Zaiyad (10-8) at Auteuil 3m hdl Grd 1 (1).
Sonnyanjoe (IRE) 5-2 (10-0) Chased leaders, led 9th, driven clear approaching 3 out, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (1) gd beating Lyes Green (10-0) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Halcon Genelardais (FR) 25-1 (11-10) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Kauto Star (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar, 18 ran.
Redemption 66-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway on outside 6th, weakened 3 out, 25th of 28, well behind Burntoakboy (9-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Special Envoy (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Led until after 6th, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out, 8th of 16, 9l behind Kanad (9-7) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl (2) gf.
De Soto 7-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden to go 2nd approaching 3 out until jumped left 2 out, weakening when blundered last, 5th of 8, 26l behind Blythe Knight (11-0) at Aintree 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Burntoakboy 11-10 (11-8) Led to 4 out, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, beaten approaching 2 out, 2nd of 3, 5l behind La Grande Villez (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (3) gf.
Si Grand (FR) (10-1) Prominent, stayed on well final furlong, 4th of 10, 5l behind Parrain (10-3) at Enghien 2m 1f hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Nov '06.
Taranis (FR) 10-11fav (11-10) Led from 3rd, slight mistake 8th, ridden when attempted to run out 2 out, clear and stayed on best from last, won at Down Royal 3m chs Grd 1 (1) gd beating Justified (11-10) by 5l, 6 ran.
Coat of Honour (USA) 3-1fav (11-9) Held up, headway 4 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Mister McGoldrick (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 3f lst hcp chs (1) gf.
Mister McGoldrick 10-3 (11-12) Chased leaders, took closer order halfway, led 7th, clear approaching last, won at Wetherby 2m 3f lst hcp chs (1) gf beating Borora (10-6) by 6l, 7 ran.
Ungaro (FR) 8-11fav (11-10) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, every chance last, no extra run-in, last of 3, 6l behind L'Antartique (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f int chs (3) gd.
Monolith 3-1 (10-10) Held up, pushed along 5th, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 3rd of 6, 21l behind Spring Breeze (9-9) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gf in Apr.
Eric's Charm (FR) 8-1 (10-7) Pressed leader, led 13th, headed 4 out, chased winner after, 3 lengths down last, stayed on gamely under pressure run-in, 2nd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Lacdoudal (11-5) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Apr '06.
Old Benny 11-2 (11-12) Challenged 3 out, every chance from 2 out, one pace flat, 2nd of 9, 3l behind That's Rhythm (11-3) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Rambling Minster 33-1 (11-9) Always behind, struggling from 8th, 6th of 7, well behind New Alco (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f Grad Ch (2) gd.
Desert Tommy 8-1 (11-2) Ran in snatches, mistake 12th, soon struggling, mistake 4 out, left poor 4th 2 out, 4th of 11, well behind Irish Wolf (11-2) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gd in Jun.
Fair Question (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Slight lead, pecked 8th, hit 14th, narrowly headed next, in touch when blundered and fell at the 17th in race won by Butler's Cabin (12-0) at Cheltenham 4m 1f nov amt chs (2) gs in Mar, 19 ran.
