ASCOT

ASCOT’S jumps season kicked off with a valuable card last Saturday, the highlight of which was the Grade 3 Sodexo Gold Cup, a handicap chase over three miles.

Victory went to Gary Moore’s Traffic Fluide, 4/1, who tracked the bold-jumping Go Conquer and led after two out. He was outjumped by Art Mauresque at the last but rallied well for Josh Moore and got up to score by half a length.

Traffic Fluide was stepping up on a good second last time and jumped particularly well, leaving the impression that he could stay quite a bit farther.

“I’ve never trained a horse for the Grand National before but if ever I’ve had one that I think is made for it, it’s Traffic Fluide,” the trainer said. “He’s looking like he’s coming back to his best. At Cheltenham last season he was only sixth jumping the last but came through to win half a length so I knew he’d keep fighting. I’ll have to work it out but I probably won’t run him again until about a month before the National.”

Paddy Power introduced Traffic Fluide at 50/1 in their ante-post book.