Tataniano

Tataniano was another Paul Nicholls seasonal debutant who put up a nice performance to land short odds at Exeter on Tuesday, winning the extended-two-mile novices’ chase in the style of a good horse. This is a race that Nicholls has won in the past with Sporazene and Natal, so it is reasonable to assume that Tataniano is highly regarded at home, and it is not surprising, given that he was an exciting novice hurdler last season. Settled nicely behind the tearaway leader Like A Duke in the early stages, Tataniano jumped really nicely. He shortened up well when he had to, and he seemed to jump with an economy of effort and minimum fuss, confident throughout, if a little to his right. He took it up half way down the back straight, and eased four lengths clear rounding the home turn. He was a little guessy at the first in the home straight, but he was spot on over the last three, and he pulled clear to post an impressive win.

Winner of his only start between the flags at Belharbour in February 2008, and winner of his only run in a bumper at Chepstow last October, the son of Sassanian shaped like a promising novice hurdler last season, running well for a long way when fourth behind Diamond Harry and Bensalem at the Pillar Property meeting at Cheltenham in January. He didn’t make the Nicholls team for the Festival, but he did round off the season by making all to win easily at Cheltenham’s April meeting. He is an exciting recruit to chasing. Nicholls spoke about the Independent Newspapers race at Cheltenham’s November meeting as the next intended target. That is also on Sizing Europe’s agenda and, while I can’t see Tataniano beating Henry de Bromhead’s stable star in that, all things being equal, he is progressive and is well worth noting for now.

20th October, 2009