THE drinks were expected to flow – and keep flowing – after the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained 25-1 chance Splash Of Ginge landed the featured BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Gloucestershire trainer Twiston-Davies, who took the previous Saturday meeting at Cheltenham by storm with a treble, said: "When owner John Neild won the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February 2014, he took over The Hollow Bottom for four days. I think the bar bill was something like £17,000."

Having endured a quiet period in recent months, the 23-year-old jockey Tom Bellamy enjoyed a rare moment centre stage as he galvanised Splash Of Ginge to his first victory over fences in almost three years when holding Starchitect at bay by a neck.

Bellamy said: "To get a ride in a race like that, let alone win one, I am very grateful for the chance and it is great to repay them like that. I won the Sky Bet Chase last year, but this is the biggest winner. I'm chuffed."

Twiston-Davies said: "It is really brilliant, especially when it is with a horse like that who had lost his way a little bit. It is great for Tom Bellamy, he has not had a great time, but John likes giving young jockeys a chance."

He added: "We'll certainly be back in December and we may think again about the Grand National, John is a Liverpudlian after all."

JP McManus looks to have carried out a shrewd piece of business in acquiring Apple's Shakira, who landed the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial Juvenile Hurdle by 17 lengths to initiate a double for winning trainer Nicky Henderson.

Henderson said of the even-money winner: "Barry (Geraghty) has adored her from the first moment. She is funny though, as she shows nothing at home.

"That ground is soft, which she enjoyed, as she'd not want it too fast. I suppose the Triumph Hurdle is where she'll finish off, but she won't be hiding in her stable."

Thomas Campbell (13-8) may be a bit of a jack the lad at home but he has no problem in turning on the style on the track, completing Henderson's brace in the Listed Regulatory Finance Solutions Handicap Hurdle.

A tilt at Grade One glory could be on the cards for Black Corton (4-1) after he completed a five-timer with a four-length victory in the mallardjewellers.com Novices' Chase, giving Bryony Frost another big Saturday winner.

Winning trainer Paul Nicholls said: "In all the time I've been training I don't think I've had a horse improve like him.

"I could be brave and run in something like the Feltham and then give him a break before the spring."

Posh Trish (9-4) maintained her unbeaten record when giving 10-times champion trainer Nicholls further cause for celebration in the Listed mares' bumper.

But the toughest performance of the day came from Perfect Candidate, trained across the road from the Twiston-Davies yard in the village of Naunton by Fergal O'Brien.

Perfect Candidate has a real appetite for the hill at Cheltenham and the admirable 10-year-old gained a third success at the track when gamely taking the Grade Three BetVictor.com Handicap Chase by a neck.