Ratings Update: Actions speak louder than words for Talkischeap

Naturally it was Altior who stole the headlines after winning his third Celebration Chase at Sandown to take his unbeaten record over jumps to 19, eclipsing the former record belonging to Big Buck’s. However, as at Cheltenham last month, Altior didn’t need to run anywhere near his master rating of 180p, with a two and a half length beating of the 164-rated Sceau Royal and a couple of long-shots not beaten that far in third and fourth. The potential is there for Altior to improve his rating in the stronger staying division where he’s headed next season, though by the same token that will put his winning streak under more serious threat.

Talkischeap but this horse has delivered in the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap at @Sandownpark pic.twitter.com/7FzY8E00Sv

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) 27 April 2019

For the second year running, the bet365 Gold Cup was turned into a procession by a novice, with Talkischeap (155 from 150) sprinting clear on the run-in to win by ten lengths and nine from former winners The Young Master (144 from 143) and Step Back (145 from 146?) who was successful last year. With strong novice form behind him already, the Alan King-trained winner found further improvement upped in trip in a strongly-run race, and he’s very much one to keep on the right side next season. Runner-up in all his completed starts this season, Black Corton (160 from 156) was back in the winner’s enclosure and seemingly better than ever when impressive in the Oaksey Chase, though it was a race with an end-of-season feel and none of his rivals running up to their best.

There were doubts about plenty in the line-up for the Select Hurdle, but there was much to like about Younevercall’s win (153 from 150) who jumped fluently and stayed on strongly on his first start since the Long Walk Hurdle in December, since when he’d had a breathing operation. He needs to go right-handed, though, which restricts his options in the good staying hurdles. Perhaps the best prospect on the whole card is Getaway Trump (153p from 143p) whose fourth win of the season was gained with plenty of authority in the novices’ handicap hurdle. Not only does the form look strong, Getaway Trump was conceding upwards of 11 lb to his rivals and he could go down the Champion Hurdle route next term according to Paul Nicholls.

Getaway Trump produces a high class performance to win the bet365 Novices' Championship Final at @Sandownpark pic.twitter.com/EpPUJDvjP7

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) 27 April 2019

Switching codes, there were a couple of Derby trials earlier in the week. Ballydoyle might have better prospects for the Derby itself, but Cape of Good Hope (107p from 103p), a brother to Highland Reel and Idaho, looks the type to keep improving after beating another smart prospect Cap Francais (106p from 94p) in Epsom’s Blue Riband Trial. Sandown’s Classic Trial has struggled to live up to its name of late, but the Derby is still an option for ready winner Bangkok (109p from 105p) and runner-up Technician (105p from 92p) who didn’t get a clear run and will benefit from the return to a mile and a half.

Sandown’s pattern races for older horses didn’t result in too many changes in the ratings. Bangkok’s trainer Andrew Balding landed the bet365 Mile with Beat The Bank (121) with runner-up Sharja Bridge (120) also running up to his best, but Regal Reality (118 from 114), a lightly-raced four-year-old for Sir Michael Stoute, shaped encouragingly behind them in third on his reappearance, particularly with a try over further in mind. Stoute’s Crystal Ocean didn’t need to run up to his high-class best (129) to win the Gordon Richards Stakes for the second year running, but a decisive beating of the front-running Knight To Behold (121 from 119) puts him on course for a possible run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup next.

Leicester’s King Richard III Stakes drew a smart field for a listed contest and winner Hey Gaman (118 from 116) showed a good attitude in winning comfortably from the front, taking a drop in class for his reappearance but looking more than ready now for a return to better company.

Big shock in the (Group 3) Vintage Crop Stakes at @NavanRacecourse as @JosephOBrien2's son of Frankel MASTER OF REALITY takes it at 33/1!

📽️ @RacingTV
pic.twitter.com/DnZEWYUb5e

— TimeformLive (@TimeformLive) 28 April 2019

Over in Ireland, there was an upset in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan where 33/1 outsider Master of Reality (117 from 103) accounted for a smart and a larger than usual field of stayers that included former St Leger winner Capri. Representing connections already successful in the Melbourne Cup with Rekindling, the same race could be on the ex-French gelding’s agenda later in the year, with the Gold Cup a more immediate target according to Joseph O’Brien. On the same card, Aidan O’Brien’s ante-post Oaks favourite Pink Dogwood (100p) landed the odds in the listed Salsabil Stakes without needing to improve on her two-year-old form, or Ryan Moore having to go for his stick. She owes her position at the head of the Epsom betting more on connections and pedigree (sister to last year’s Irish Derby winner Latrobe) than what she has achieved on the track to date.