Talkischeap signed off for the season with this biggest success of his career as the 2018/19 British National Hunt campaign drew to a close, when running out a wide-margin winner of the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.
One of the leading contenders in the build up to the race, the Getaway gelding, who was having just his second outing in handicap company in what has been his novice chase campaign, the seven-year-old was patiently ridden throughout the 3m 5f contest.
His rider Wayne Hutchinson oozed confidence exiting the back straight as the long-time leaders Step Back and The Young Master, two previous winners of the £150,000 contest, attempted to stretch the field out, with Hutchinson eventually pulling the trigger aboard Alan King’s charge at the final fence.
Talkischeap responded immediately, easily brushing aside The Young Master as he powered up the run-in to win by 10 lengths to record his fifth success under rules, having earlier remained unbeaten between the flags with three consecutive point-to-point successes for Donnchadh Doyle at Lisbeg, Portrush and Grennan.
Point-to-point graduates featured prominently in the race, with the 2018 winner, Step Back, himself also a three-time point winner returning in a respectable third, whilst Give Me A Copper finished fourth.
The success for owner Charles Digwell completes a successful season for him with his purchases from the Irish point-to-point fields, having also witnessed his The Glancing Queen win the Grade 2 Bumper at Aintree’s Grand National meeting earlier in the month.
Following the success King said: "I'm not often shocked, but I'm pretty shocked by it all. The gamble midweek, I thought 'really?'. They obviously knew more than I did.
"He was probably a little bit disappointing at Kempton, but we weren't firing at the time.
"We've been very happy with him, but I didn't expect that performance. I heard someone say I've only had three winners out of 90 runners on Saturday for a while and that didn't go down very well, but Saturday's are competitive.
"I think on this ground we didn't have any doubts about the stamina, but you never know until you try. He was always in the comfort zone. He never missed a beat.
"I'm not a fan of the (Grand) National, but we will have to give it some consideration, I suppose. He (Charles Dingwall, owner) is a great mate and is a pleasure to train for. He has always got his opinion but is very constructive and helpful.
"It (Ladbrokes Trophy) would be in the equation, but he is probably marginally better going right-handed, although he has run well around Newbury. I suppose he will have an entry in that."
That success for Talkischeap completed a big race double for Irish pointers on the final day of the British jumps season, with Getaway Trump having earlier landed the Bet365 Novices Championship Final in impressive fashion.
A four-year-old maiden winner for Vincent Halley at Lisronagh, the now six-year-old had to give away upwards of 11lbs to each of his rivals, however his big weight did little to hold him back, as he powered up the hill to win for Harry Cobden and Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls by two and three-quarter lengths.
The Getaway gelding could re-appear at Wincanton’s Elite Hurdle in the autumn as Nicholls eyes up a second season over the smaller obstacles after he was introduced as a 33/1 shot for the 2020 Champion Hurdle.
