Former trainer Dingwall lands bet365 Gold Cup as his Talkischeap triumphs

There was once a trainer called Charles Dingwall, who held a licence when horses such as The Dikler, Andy Pandy and Diamond Edge were winning what was then the Whitbread Gold Cup.

There is now an owner called Charles Dingwall, who last held a training licence nearly 40 years ago and these days owns a few horses, the best of which, Talkischeap, gave him the biggest win of his racing life when romping to victory in what is now the bet365 Gold Cup.

A punch of the air from jockey Wayne Hutchinson marked the point at which the Alan King-trained novice sprinted past Sandown's winning post ten lengths clear at the end of a handicap that lost five of its 20 declared runners due to underfoot conditions.

It was clear from some way out the 14 who bothered to take on Talkischeap might as well not have bothered.

Talkischeap and Wayne Hutchinson were dominant in the bet365 Gold CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I don't often get shocked but I'm pretty shocked now," said King, who was indeed shocked.

Plenty of people watching here and elsewhere will also have been shocked that West Approach, a 25-1 shot in the morning, was backed in to 5-1 market leadership.

It was a plunge as bizarre as the one that led to Monkerhostin being sent off co-favourite for the 2007 Grand National. Unlike Monkerhostin, West Approach did at least finish.

In his moment of celebration, Dingwall was asked when he finished training.

"Oh, Christ alive," he said. "Well now, do you remember the dinosaurs? When they became extinct was when I stopped training.

"It was back in 1980. Then I went into shipping bloodstock and followed that up by managing Prince Ahmed Salman's Universal Stables through the 80s and early 90s before going farming.

"I met Alan three or four years ago and thought he was a nice fellow. I decided if I was ever to have a horse with anybody it would be with him."

He has ended up having more than one. Dingwall owns a share in King's Aintree bumper winner The Glancing Queen and he can claim all of Talkischeap, a seven-year-old who suddenly has the world at his feet.

"I didn't expect that performance but he never missed a beat today," said King. "I've no idea where he'll go next season. I would rather just enjoy today for now. I'm not a fan of the National but we'll have to give it consideration."

Charles Dingwall (right) enjoyed the biggest win of his racing life with TalkischeapCredit: Mark Cranham

The connections of the second and third will likely consider returning to Sandown on this day next year, given The Young Master and Step Back came here as previous winners of the £150,000 feature. Both ran excellent races once again, particularly The Young Master, who came close to unseating Sam Waley-Cohen at the second fence.

"The jockey had two feet on one side of him," said trainer Neil Mulholland. "He has run a fantastic race and we've had a great season with him."

Great seasons have also been had by Hutchinson and King, for whom winning tasted all the sweeter due to the identity of the triumphant owner, whose most important success as a trainer came when Golden Rifle won a trial for the Triumph Hurdle. That was an awfully long time ago.

"Charles is a legend," said King. "I'm so chuffed for him. He's a great mate and it's a pleasure to train his horses."

Dingwall would happily tell you it's a pleasure to own them.

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