The key questions to help you find the winner of the Sodexo Gold Cup

3.35 Ascot
Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase | Grade 3 | 3m, 4yo+ | ITV4/RUKCan

Can Conquer swing back into form?

Go Conquer heads to Ascot to defend his Sodexo Gold Cup crown, having won by four and a half lengths 12 months ago, but he arrives back in Berkshire for his debut outing for new trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies after three seasons with Jonjo O’Neill.

The nine-year-old struggled to push on from last year’s victory and had a lacklustre campaign subsequently, failing to place in any of his following three runs and rounding off the season by finishing eighth in the Silver Trophy Chase at Cheltenham.

Watch the replay of Go Conquer's 2017 Gold Cup win here

Twiston-Davies will be hoping to direct the likely favourite back in the right direction, but admitted Saturday's run was more of a learning experience than anything else.

He said: “As he was with Jonjo last season and it’s his first run for us, we don’t know him that well.

"Having said that, we like everything we’ve seen so far at home and he seems to be showing good form. We’re hoping for a really positive run.”

Will seniority prove decisive?

Colin Tizzard’s representative Kings Lad has at least two years on the rest of the field and half a decade on three of the runners, but there is plenty to suggest the 11-year-old can tame his younger rivals and claim his first Grade 3 victory.

Kings Lad has been in flying form this season, with three wins and a second in four runs, and should be well suited by the three-mile trip after winning over just a little shorter at Chepstow last month.

He has already proven his versatility this year, winning at Exeter and Fontwell over distances that were seven furlongs apart and within 19 days of each other.

He has responded well to wind surgery over the summer and, under the guidance of Richard Johnson, certainly has strong claims.

Will stamina doubt undo Diamonds?

Too Many Diamonds makes his return after an absence of almost three months and after showing plenty of promise this season Dan Skelton’s runner has a fine chance to prove himself in a big way.

The seven-year-old has three victories at Southwell in low-class competition, but finishing second by half a length in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen suggests there could be more to come.

There are question marks as to whether he can handle the hefty step up in trip, but he is consistent, has a light weight and his rider Harry Skelton comes here having clocked up his century for the season on Friday.

What the others say

Gary Moore, trainer of Traffic Fluide
He ran a nice race the other day. Hopefully he can repeat that and run a big race again.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Art Mauresque and Adrien Du Pont
I was a bit disappointed with Art Mauresque at Chepstow last time but the ground was a bit soft for him. I think three miles will suit him and he should love the ground. It’s Adrien Du Pont’s first run of the season and over this trip so we’re excited. He’s a talented horse and hopefully he’ll run a tidy race.

David Pipe, trainer of Ramses De Teillee
It’s a race we’ve had in mind for a while, but I just hope the ground is on the slower side of good and that he’ll take his chance. Plenty of others are in the same situation. He’s had a wind operation over the summer and is in good form.

Rebecca Curtis, trainer of Geordie Des Champs
He’s been looking good at home and goes well fresh. Good ground suits and he should like the track, with both of his chase wins being right-handed.

Neil Mulholland, trainer of Solighoster
He always runs well fresh and has won first time out for the last two years. This should be a nice race for him.

Peter Bowen, trainer of Play The Ace
He ran well last time and the ground and track will suit. The step up in trip shouldn’t be a problem.

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