Traffic Fluide

Traffic Fluide ran a fine race to finish second to Kings Lad in the two-mile-three-furlong handicap chase at Ascot on Saturday.

Settled into a nice rhythm early on by Joshua Moore, the Astarabad gelding travelled and jumped well throughout. He actually jumped to the front over the seventh last fence, and he and Village Vic locked horns over the four fences down the side of the track, both of them jumping all four fences well. It was apparent that Traffic Fluide had the Hobbs horse’s measure as they levelled up for home, but it was also apparent that Kings Lad wasn’t out of it. The Colin Tizzard horse moved in behind the duelling leaders between the final two fences, went on over the last, and went on to win the race, but there was a lot to like about the manner in which Traffic Fluide rallied on the run-in, closing down Kings Lad’s lead back to a length and a half by the time they reached the winning line.

Traffic Fluide probably ran a lot better than the bare form suggests. Gary Moore’s horse travelled like the best horse in the race from a long way out, but he and Village Vic got into a duel from early, probably too far out over two miles and three furlongs on the holding ground. He can probably be marked up a fair bit on the bare form of this run.

Traffic Fluide is only five, and this was just his third chase. On his previous run, he British debut, he did not fare at all badly in finishing fourth of five behind Ptit Zig and Josses Hill, two of the best novice chasers in Britain, and only three lengths behind the 150-rated Dunraven Storm. He raced off a mark of 125 on Saturday, and the handicapper raised him 4lb for this performance, but that leaves him on a mark of 129, a mark off which he should be able to win a decent handicap. The Rewards4Racing Novices’ Handicap Chase is an obvious Cheltenham Festival target, but he will be of interest wherever he goes next. He could be even better settled in behind a fast pace in a better race.

17th January 2015