Here is an update.
I used a blurred HDRI image map. HDR prefilter ON with HDR intensity at 0.4. No Bounce Light GI, MC 6, depth 1 and GI Nosie reduction at Photons 500000, radius 100, count 400. Took about 30 seconds to render. I like the result better as it is less waxy than the previous PS blured indirect illumination layer.

Julez, the IBL cheat idea I was referring too comes from this article.
http://www.andrew-whitehurst.net/amb_occlude.html
I didn’t follow the whole approach, but what I did with the HDRI was to get my indirect illumination from the HDRI environment map.
Cheers,