What next for Inothewayurthinkin? Inothewayurthinkin won the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in fine style for trainer Gavin Cromwell, but connections have since opted to skip the Grand National at Aintree. Cromwell believes the seven-year-old is a year too young for the Aintree marathon and has opted out of heading for Liverpool, but what will be next for Inothewayurthinkin? Aintree a year too soon The clamour for Inothewayurthinkin to run in the Grand National was immediate after his Cheltenham success. He denied favourite Galopin Des Champs a historic hat-trick at Prestbury Park as Mark Walsh rode him to victory by six lengths from the Willie Mullins-trained star in second. Golden Miller, all the way back in 1934, is the only horse to win both the Gold Cup and the Grand National double in the same season. With the handicap marks for the National already set, Inothewayurthinkin would have had a stone in hand going to Aintree on official ratings, but Cromwell says it isn't the right race for him, at least not yet. "He's only seven and we've worked so hard on his jumping this season that we feel it just might be a backward step to run him at Aintree," Cromwell said. "We're absolutely delighted to win a Gold Cup and it might be asking a bit much of him to try to win a Grand National as well at the age of seven." Cheltenham return already in the planning Next spring he may consider Aintree, but likely only after trying to defend the Blue Riband in the Cotswolds first. Only three horses this century have managed to retain the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Cromwell is placing that ambition front and centre. "I know he would look very well in at the weights and he's a clear favourite for (the National), but I think we'll do the right thing by the horse, and hopefully he's going to be a horse for the Gold Cup again next year," he added. The JP McManus-owned star could, however, be set for one more run in Ireland this season. Punchestown prize on the horizon The Irish jumps season culminates with the Punchestown Festival in late April/early May and the Punchestown Gold Cup is very much under consideration next. "We'll see how he is over the next few weeks before making a decision on that," he added. "It is possible but not definite. We'll see how he is over the next few weeks, and I'll talk to (Racing Manager) Frank Berry and JP McManus, and we'll make a decision closer to the time." If they do head for the Co Kildare circuit a possible rematch with Galopin Des Champs could be in the offing, while the likes of Fact To File and Spillane's Tower could also be awaiting, albeit the latter pair are also both owned by McManus. The trio are all trained in separate yards, Fact To File by Mullins and Spillane's Towner by Jimmy Mangan, and their owner has rarely been a man to avoid seeing his stars clash on the track. Inothewayurthinkin could well line up at peerless Punchestown for Ireland's premier end of season staying chase but, longer term, a return to Cheltenham in the spring of 2026 is very much the top priority. Get €20 in FREE bets with Midnite Sign up to claim 4x €5 Horse Racing Free Bets plus 50 FREE Spins:
