Regular ante-post punters, who scour the horse racing betting markets for the best value throughout the course of the season, were left ripping up their slips recently when Gavin Cromwell revealed that his stable star, Inotherwayurthinkin, will not be participating in the Grand National races following his emphatic Gold Cup success.
The seven-year-old stunned the packed concourses at Prestbury Park into silence when beating Galopin Des Champs in the 2025 Cheltenham Festival feature race, denying Willie Mullins’ dual winner a landmark hat-trick victory in the Gold Cup.
Galopin Des Champs never appeared to be his usual self throughout the race. He made jumping mistakes at multiple obstacles and was hampered by faller Ahoy Senor, who forced Paul Townend to steer him wide to avoid being brought down.
Nevertheless, he looked to be the most likely winner when freewheeling down the hill into contention and jumping for the lead three out. However, Inothewayurthinkin was stalking the defending gamely under an expert ride from Mark Walsh.
It wasn’t long before JP McManus’ runner was in front, and it was clear that Galopin Des Champs was never keeping up with Inothewayurthinkin up the infamous Cheltenham Hill—as he ran on for a comfortable six-length win.
It was a landmark moment for Cromwell and Walsh, as the pair enjoyed their Gold Cup wins, while it marked a second victory in one of jumps racing’s most prestigious contests for billionaire McManus—who last lifted the Gold Cup with Synchronised in 2012.
Already well-backed for the Grand National before being supplemented for £25,000 for the Gold Cup, Inothewayurthinkin was smashed into 5/2 by eager ante-post punters following what they saw at Prestbury Park.
A rare Gold Cup and Grand National double, which has only been completed in the same season once by the legendary Golden Miller in 1934, seemed to be within reach. However, Cromwell was quick to inform the National Hunt world that the attempt was off the cards.
“He’s only seven and we’ve worked so hard on his jumping this season that we feel it just might be a backward step to run him at Aintree,” Cromwell explained.
“We’re absolutely delighted to win a Gold Cup and it might be asking a bit much of him to try to win a Grand National as well at the age of seven.”
Some questioned the decision, especially as it’s a common occurrence for horses to head to Aintree following the Cheltenham Festival. But the health and safety of the horses is paramount to the sport, and if Inothewayurthinkin’s connections feel it’s the right decision, then so be it.
After all, as Cromwell said, he is only seven years old. With a bright future ahead of him, it might be foolish to push him so hard at such a young age. There’s plenty of time to try and win a Grand National if that’s the aim, and a second Gold Cup triumph certainly isn’t off the cards next season.
Those hoping they might see the horse in the Punchestown Gold Cup later in April may still be keeping their fingers crossed, though, as Cromwell refused to rule that out.