Cheltenham: Inothewayurthinkin wins Gold Cup for owner JP McManus

Inothewayurthinkin has won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, denying Galopin des Champs a third victory in a row.

Trained by Gavin Cromwell and ridden by Mark Walsh, the seven-year-old was supplemented for the race at a cost of €30,000 and that decision paid off in style for owner JP McManus.

It looked as though 8-13 favourite Galopin Des Champs was about to become the first three-time winner since Best Mate, but Inothewayurthinkin (15-2) was cruising in behind and in the end he fairly sprinted home to win by six lengths.

“I’m absolutely speechless,” said Cromwell to Racing TV.

“We’ve had a lot of faith in this horse. Credit has to go to Keith Donoghue with this horse, he’s been a part of him all the way.

“He’s done all the schooling and ridden him all the way along. I’m just thrilled.

“I was worried about the pace of the race on the better ground, he was only just hanging in there the whole time – he was flat out.

“He’s a very good horse. Going down to the second last I thought we had a good chance, what can you say? It’s brilliant, I’m just thrilled.

“Great thanks to JP and Noreen [McManus] for having the confidence to supplement him. It’s brilliant, they’re so good to train for. They’re brilliant people.”

Mark Walsh after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA

Jockey Walsh said: “I’m dancing inside! It’s brilliant, I can’t believe it.

“They went a nice gallop, he jumped well on the whole but just missed the ditch down the back there. I was always on the outside, early on he missed a few fences and I just saw Paul [Townend on Galopin Des Champs] wasn’t happy, so I was happy to see that.

“Credit to this fella, he’s had to do some growing up the last year. He won here last year, but Gavin Cromwell is a genius.

“He’s a homebred as well, which makes it extra special.”

Owner McManus added: “You have to enjoy these moments, they are so long in the making. We’ve had him since he was a foal, he was bred by Noreen [his wife]. It’s a very exciting time and I will treasure it.

“I would like to see it again, I don’t think I took it all in, but it’s an exciting day.”

Paul Townend said of Galopin Des Champs: “He tried his heart out and he’s home in one piece. He’ll go again.

“He was just not happy, everything was a bit of an effort. He still gave it a crack and gave them something to shout about for a long way.

“A couple of jumps back up to the top of the hill, I was hoping rather than feeling confident that he was going to come alive for me there, to be honest. He’s run a blinder.”