Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin proved he has a huge future ahead of him with victory in the Blue Riband event in the sport at the Cheltenham Festival. The Irish horse was supplemented for the race at the cost of £25,000, and he justified that decision with a wide-margin victory on day four of the meeting.
Here is a look at what may be next for the Cheltenham hero later this season and in the 2025/25 Jumps season.
Cromwell Rules Our Aintree
Galopin Des Champs has his day spoiled ❌
Inothewayurthinkin is a Gold Cup winner! 🏆#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @gavincromwell1 pic.twitter.com/PZG6L2ycjm
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 14, 2025
After such an impressive performance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, it was expected that Inothewayurthinkin would run at Aintree in the Grand National. However, his trainer Gavin Cromwell has ruled that out. It means Intense Raffles is the new favourite in the Grand National betting at 6/1, as he bids to add to his Irish Grand National success.
Cromwell’s chaser would have come up against Royale Pagaille once again at Aintree had he lined up in the 4m2f contest. The latter finished sixth behind Inothewayurthinkin in the Gold Cup, and he is 150/1 in the horse racing odds to go five places better in the world’s most famous steeplechase.
Although Inothewayurthinkin has risen to an official rating of 175 for his Cheltenham Gold Cup success, his weight for the Aintree contest would have been as low as 11st 5lb. Part of Cromwell’s decision to rule his horse out of the race was due to the timing of the Grand National, as the contest would come just weeks after his Cheltenham Festival triumph.
Punchestown Gold Cup an Option
One option for Inothewayurthinkin at the back end of the 2024/25 season is to run in the Punchestown Gold Cup at the Punchestown Festival. That would see the seven-year-old remain at Grade One level.
Sizing John beat Djakadam by just a short head in Punchestown Gold Cup. The rematch is on for Durkan Chase 10 Dec. pic.twitter.com/pX0bn7B7Ea
— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) November 22, 2017
The last horse to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Punchestown Gold Cup in the same year was Sizing John in 2017. Galopin Des Champs has lined up in the latter in each of the last two seasons, but he had to settle for second place on both occasions.
Inothewayurthinkin has run three times at Punchestown before. He began his campaign there in the John Durkan Memorial Chase, finishing seventh in the race won by Fact To File. Cromwell’s runner also featured at the Punchestown Festival in 2023 in the Champion Novice Hurdle, coming home fourth in the Grade One contest.
Gold Cup Sure To Be Primary Target Next Season
Although discussions for next season will not have started yet, the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival is sure to be the primary target. Inothewayurthinkin has now won at the last two meetings, with victory also coming in the 2024 Kim Muir Challenge Cup, so he has shown he relishes the racecourse in Gloucestershire.
Galopin Des Champs fell just one place short of becoming the first horse since Best Mate in 2004 to win three Gold Cups. That’s a realistic target for Inothewayurthinkin to achieve himself, as he is young enough to run in at least three more Gold Cup races.
Cromwell and McManus are fortunate to have one of the most exciting chasers the sport has seen for many years. All chasing options are open to the pair in Europe next season in what is set to be an exciting campaign.
