Lockinge hero Virtual the new star of the show at Etheridge Farm

Hewick, the latest ambassador for Shark Hanlon's sharp eye for value when cruising home eight lengths clear in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown's jumps finale, is also now a poster boy for his sire Virtual as he establishes himself in his new home at Etheridge Farm and Stud in Dorset.

The 2009 Lockinge winner spent his first four seasons as a stallion with his owner-breeder Cheveley Park Stud before moving to Kenneth Cullinane's Woodlands Stud in County Galway, primarily to prove himself in National Hunt circles.

He is now the sole thoroughbred member on the roster at Ann Bassett and Tony Wareham's operation near Blandford Forum, a decorated producer of show horses which stands Warmblood and Irish Draught sires.

"Woodlands Stud got in touch and I bought him last September," Bassett explained.

"He's a lovely horse to be around, a good horse to cover with and I've had him inspected by the sports horse breeding people and he's on their official lists now.

"He's good for National Hunt, Hewick was a great winner for him at Sandown to fire him up a bit the first year, he was quite impressive I thought.

"I'd say he'll be used in eventing and he's a big, good-looking horse. If someone sent a big Irish Draught mare you'd get a lovely show hunter I'd say."

Virtual has eligible breeding as a son of Pivotal whose three-parts brother Iceman won the Coventry Stakes. Further down his page is the brilliant Cheveley Park family of Integral and Echelon as well as the 2,000 Guineas winner Entrepreneur.

The stallion himself, who went through the ranks before his narrow defeat of Alexandros and Twice Over in the Newbury showpiece before placing third in the Prix du Moulin and Jacques Le Marois, has had the odd winner under both codes but Hewick, who is likely to be viewed as a Grand National prospect for next year, has been very much the best to date.

Hewick wins the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown for Shark Hanlon and Jordan GainfordCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Also successful in the Durham National last October, he was picked up for a mere €850 by Hanlon and his partner Rachel O'Neill as a two-year-old at a sale in Goresbridge in 2017 and now ranks alongside Skyace, the £600 Ascot bargain who went on to Grade 1 glory at Fairyhouse, in the stable's hall of fame.

Bassett, who has advertised Virtual at a £750 fee, continued: "He's covered a few thoroughbred mares as well, hopefully there'll be a few more now as some people have been in touch. I think he'll be used by the point-to-pointing people as well."

The thoroughbred is also in demand to cross with other breeds for various sectors of the sport horse industry and Virtual is not the first to have made his way to Etheridge.

"I've always stood one, sprinkled in with the warmbloods and the other stallions," Bassett, who has been in this business since 1983, explained.

"I stood one called Southern Music, he won a load of races but he wasn't a Group 1 winner. We are looking for a big, good moving horse who can get eventers and show horses.

"Some had good racing form, some didn't. You want quality and this is certainly the best form horse I've had, being a Group 1 winner."

Read more

Aclaim breaks new ground for bargain hunters while Frankel finds latest niche (£)

Fame and glory for France at the Punchestown festival (£)

Classic victory for National Stud's Aclaim as gallant Cachet tops the charts

'It's extra special' - homebred Coroebus a delight for Darley in 2,000 Guineas