Tataniano Withdrawn From Champion Chase

Paul Nicholls went before the media today and declared that one of his most interesting contenders for the 2011 Cheltenham Festival has not been able to get his fitness up in time for the March 15 showpiece.

Tataniano, a seven year-old son of Sassanian, had been an outside fancy for the Champion Chase, but it appears as though a slight muscle tear has pushed him off the Cheltenham trail.

Speaking to the media, Paul Nicholls remained positive and insisted that Tatiano’s career is far from threatened. “It is not the end of the world as we can always go to Aintree and/or Punchestown.” Missing Cheltenham may work out in Tataniano’s favour as he would likely be fresh and ready to go for the Aintree meeting in April.

Tataniano was able to score in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase over the Aintree surface and may find it easier to get the score now that he’s set to avoid heavy-favourite Master Minded. 

A number of punters appeared to think that, despite a solitary run this year where he finished third to Gauvain, Tataniano was a decent fancy for the Champion Chase and he’s been bet down accordingly. At one point his price traded as low as 12/1 with most major bookmakers.

Owned by the Stewart Family, Tataniano boasts a pair of novice chase victories over the Cheltenham course, one of which was the Grade 2 Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase.