Talkischeap gamble could prove expensive for bookmakers in bet365 Gold Cup

Talkischeap could be expensive for bookmakers on Saturday as the gamble on the seven-year-old novice chaser forced him into 8-1 favourite for the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

Before Easter, the Alan King-trained Talkischeap was as big as 20-1, but sustained support has seen him leap to the top of the market for the Grade 3 handicap chase.

Wayne Hutchinson, who has partnered Talkischeap in all five of his chase starts, is looking forward to the ride at the end of what has been his best season for winners.

Hutchinson said: "The race was earmarked for him after his last run at Kempton, his first in handicap company where he travelled and jumped well.

"He is an unexposed type as a novice and hopefully he will improve for that experience and will put on a big show. The ground is key to him as he likes it good."

Five-day acceptors and betting for the bet365 Gold Cup

Talkischeap will be stepping into the unknown with Saturday's race run over 54 yards short of 3m5f, but Hutchinson pointed out: "He won three points [the first three years ago as a four-year-old] so hopefully that will not be a problem.

"He has mixed it with some good ones, finishing third to La Bague Au Roi and Lostintranslation, the two best novice chasers in Britain, in his first run over fences."

Lostintranslation, who beat him five lengths in that Newbury beginners' chase, won the Grade 1 Mildmay Chase at Aintree earlier this month.

Success on Talkischeap would be the icing on the cake for Hutchinson, taking his prize-money level to over £1m for the first time with his score of 84 already ten more than his previous best of two seasons ago.

"It's been a fantastic year," said the jockey. "It wouldn't have been possible without the support from the boss [King] whose horses have maintained their form throughout the season and I had over 20 winners in the summer with the help of Neil King, while Bryony Frost was injured, and Noel Williams."

Saturday's topweight Beware The Bear is reported in good form after his late withdrawal from the Scottish Grand National, when he was pulled on the morning of the race with the ground drying rapidly.

Trainer Nicky Henderson said of the 12-1 chance on Tuesday: "He worked very well this morning and, as long as the ground is not firm, he and Vyta Du Roc will run."

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