Inothewayurthinkin wins Cheltenham Gold Cup

Inothewayurthinkin won the Cheltenham Gold Cup as favourite Galopin Des Champs was denied a historic hat-trick.

The 15-2 winner, ridden by Mark Walsh for trainer Gavin Cromwell and owner JP McManus, charged clear up the hill to beat the gallant two-time victor by six lengths, with Gentlemansgame third.

McManus’ other runner Corbetts Cross suffered a fatal injury after a late fall. Ahoy Senor also came down earlier in the race and hampered Galopin Des Champs.

Inothewayurthinkin had been added to the race as a supplementary entry six days earlier at a cost of £25,000 and it proved a shrewd investment, with nearly £280,00 going to the winning owner.

Inothewayurthinkin is now 5-2 favourite to win the Grand National on 5 April and become only the second horse after Golden Miller in 1934 to complete the double in the same season.

After 100-1 chance Poniros had won the opening Triumph Hurdle, Galopin Des Champs was bidding to give trainer Willie Mullins a remarkable fifth win on the day, but had to settle for second.

The 2023 and 2024 winner was aiming to become only the fifth horse, and the first since Best Mate 21 years earlier, to win the big race three times.

Walsh stalked the defending champion on the eventual winner and his mount produced an impressive turn of foot to power clear.

“I’m dancing inside, it’s brilliant. I can’t believe it,” he said.

“I’m absolutely speechless. He was hanging in all the time that he was flat out, he’s such a good horse.

“He has grown up in the last year. Gavin is a genius to have him spot on for today.

“He is a homebred too which makes it extra special.”

It was a second win of the week for Cromwell after Stumptown’s victory in Wednesday’s Cross Country Chase.

“I never thought I would have a horse good enough to run in the Gold Cup, let alone win,” he added.

“A huge thank you to JP and Noreen – to have horses like this is unbelievable. Thanks to them for having the confidence to supplement him.”

But the joy around Inothewayurthinkin’s success was tempered by news of Corbetts Cross.

A statement from the Jockey Club read: “In our fifth race of the day, Corbetts Cross was immediately attended to by our veterinary professionals, but sadly sustained a fatal injury. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections.”

The eight-year-old, trained by Emmet Mullins, was the second horse to die at this year’s Festival after Springwell Bay suffered a fatal fall on Thursday.

The RSPCA said the two fatalities meant 31 horses had died at Cheltenham since 2016.

“Too many horses have lost their lives at Cheltenham,” it said, adding: “We await the British Horseracing Authority’s investigation into the circumstances.”

Frank Berry, racing manager for McManus, said: “The Gold Cup was brilliant, but it has put a dampener on the day and it’s always sad to lose any horse, never mind a nice horse who was running such a nice race.

“He was a lovely horse and Emmet and the team have done a lovely job with him.”