Cromwell admits National bid is ‘tempting’ with Inothewayurthinkin

Galopin Des Champs may have come short in his bid for Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup immortality, but his Prestbury Park conqueror Inothewayurthinkin put himself in line for perhaps an even greater slice of history at Aintree next month, with a Randox Grand National tilt still very much in the melting pot.

Most of the sell-out crowd that flocked to the Cotswolds expected to see the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs become only the fifth horse to win steeplechasing’s blue riband for a third time – and the first since Best Mate just over two decades ago.

The reigning champion’s performance may have lacked zest, but he still managed to fight his way to the front before the home turn. However, looming in his wing mirrors all the while was a horse who trainer Gavin Cromwell had such faith in that connections decided to supplement him for the race last weekend.

Recent form figures of seven, five and four may not look inspiring at first glance, but his staying-on fourth behind Galopin Des Champs in last month’s Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown, followed by a seemingly sparkling workout at Cromwell’s County Meath yard, meant confidence in the camp was high.

“At the end of the season last year we thought he had a chance of being a Gold Cup horse,” said the trainer.

“We started off the season in the John Durkan over two and a half miles and things just happened too quick for him, but he actually ran well to a point and just got tired.

“We went to Leopardstown at Christmas and he improved from that and we went to the Dublin Racing Festival and he was only beaten seven lengths, staying on well.

“Like last season, it takes a long time to get him fit and he’s obviously a spring horse. We felt he’d progressed a lot since the Irish Gold Cup, he takes his racing well and he did a fantastic bit of work just over a week ago, so after that it was all systems go to supplement him.”

While respectful of Galopin Des Champs’ prowess, Cromwell insists he felt his charge was lining up with a winning chance.

He added: “The cards probably didn’t fall when I didn’t enter him in the race as I just thought it was going to come too soon in his career and we’d be better waiting until next year, but he ran such a big race at the Dublin Racing Festival, he’d come forward since that and we decided to have a go.

“I suppose there is pressure when you supplement, but I think on this occasion I had such confidence in the horse that it wasn’t such a worry or a concern.

“Galopin Des Champs was a dual Gold Cup winner, but we were coming here to try to win the race – we weren’t coming to pick up the pieces and place money. I genuinely thought he had a good chance and thankfully I was right.

“To have a runner in the Gold Cup is fantastic and to win it is unbelievable. I was a farrier for 20-plus years and I suppose for the latter few years of it I was a full-time farrier and a part-time trainer, and as we got busier it reversed roles and eventually I had to give up the farrier job.

“It’s well publicised I was Gordon Elliott’s farrier and the closest I was getting to a Gold Cup was shoeing Don Cossack!”

Owner JP McManus, securing his second Gold Cup following Synchronised’s 2012 triumph, had nothing but praise for the winning trainer.

“He wasn’t entered in the Gold Cup, but Gavin said at home he was going quite well, asked me what I wanted to do and I said enter (supplement) him,” he said.

“All these trainers know more about the horse than I do and I’ve every confidence in Gavin. What can I say about him? He’s a very special man, you don’t hear from him too often but he gets the job done.

“I’d want to watch the race again and I’m looking forward to watching it. Coming down the hill I thought he was going to put it up to the champion and sure enough he did.”

Inothewayurthinkin was already Grand National favourite and is now a best-priced 3-1 to become only the second horse to win National Hunt racing’s two most prestigious prizes after Golden Miller, who completed the double in 1934.

Unsurprisingly, connections were not keen to commit in the immediate aftermath of his Gold Cup triumph, but Cromwell said: “I think we’ll all catch a breath and get the horse home and the conversation will be had. I suppose you certainly can’t rule it out and it is tempting.”