27th-Apr-2019

It is a pity that the Bet365 Gold Cup has cut up as much as it has.  Five horses have come out since yesterday afternoon, which is a shame.

I still think that Talkischeap will run well.  His early season form with La Bague Au Roi and Lostinstranslation at Newnbury is really strong form.  He finished third behind that pair on one occasion, and he split the pair of them on the other.

Those two are now Grade 1 winners, Lostintranslation is now rated 161 and La Bague Au Roi is now rated 151, without taking into account her 7lb mares’ allowance, which Talkischeap was conceding on each occasion on which they have met.  That leaves Talkischeap potentially really well handicapped on a mark of 145 today.

Talkischeap has been beaten on his last two runs, but both were at Kempton, a track that does not play to his stamina.  He wasn’t beaten far by On The Blind Side in the former contest, and it looked like he was going to be involved in the 888Sport Gold Cup, the old Racing Post Chase, last time as they rounded the home turn, before the pacier horses got away from him.

He should be happier today, over three miles and five furlongs, a trip that should play to his strengths.  He goes well on good ground and he is only seven and he has raced just five times over fences, so he has lots of potential to progress further as a staying chaser.

TALKISCHEAP WON (SP 7/1)