Comeback king Taranis on Grand National trail

When Taranis stormed up the Cheltenham hill in January to win the Argento Chase on his first outing for more than two years, even champion trainer Paul Nicholls was left speechless, writes Elliot Slater.

The French bred gelding hadn't been seen on a racecourse since pulling up quickly in the 2007 King George VI Chase where he was found to have broken down badly. Such a serous setback and the long rehabilitation that followed would normally mean the end of any expectation of a horse returning to anywhere close to his previous level, but Taranis had bucked the trend.

Following the Cheltenham win the handicapper raised the nine-year-old to a mark of 161, making him amongst the highest rated horses in training after Kauto Star and Denman, and meaning that he is technically 4lbs 'well in' on his John Smith's Grand National rating of 157.

There is no doubt that Taranis remains a very smart performer, and the winner of the 2007 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, (who later that year went on to win a Grade 1 event at Down Royal), has returned to the fray every bit as good, if not better than he was before his long enforced absence.

Nicholls has stated that Taranis will run next in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, after which, if he remains in good shape, Online Sports Betting experts suggest he may well be given the green light to tackle the Aintree challenge.

Should the gelded son of Mansonnien win the Grand National, his return to action after serious injury would rank alongside such legendary comebacks as those of Aldaniti and West Tip, horses who were given no chance of making it back onto a racecourse, never mind winning the toughest equine challenge in the world of racing.

Taranis is a class act, and at 40/1 with Horse Racing Betting he will certainly appeal to those who are prepared to take a chance on him remaining sound until the big day.