‘I think he’s taken a step forward’ — Cromwell hopeful of big run at Christmas Gavin Cromwell reports his Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin in good form following his seasonal reappearance and on target for the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown on December 28. The JP McManus-owned gelding enjoyed his finest hour last March when beating Galopin Des Champs by six lengths in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup and that pair are set to renew rivalry at Leopardstown. Inothewayurthinkin never got in a blow behind the trail-blazing Gaelic Warrior in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase last month, but Cromwell found positives in his fifth-place finish and is happy with his progress since. “He came out of Punchestown well and I think he’s taken a step forward. He’s sharpened up a bit from it so hopefully with the step up in trip, he’ll be more competitive at Christmas. “He was taken off his feet but the one thing it didn’t affect his jumping — he still jumped well and did keep going all the way to the line,” said the Danestown trainer. Cromwell will have a number of Grade 1 runners over the four-day Festival at Leopardstown including Only By Night and Hello Neighbour. Only By Night was a smart novice over fences last season winning three times including the Grade 2 Coolmore N.H. Sires Order Of St George Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase at Cork and made a successful reappearance at Naas last month in the Grade 3 Barberstown Castle Chase. The daughter of Affinisea is among 11 entries for the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase on December 27 and Cromwell commented: “She is likely to go to Leopardstown. It was a nice start back for the season in Naas and she’s in good fettle, so we are looking forward to that.” Hello Neighbour took well to hurdles last term winning the Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival and will bid for further Grade 1 glory at Leopardstown in the December Hurdle on the final day of the Christmas Festival meeting (December 29). “We’re looking forward to getting him back. He’s only a four-year-old in against older horses but hopefully he can run well.”
