The JP McManus-owned chaser was beaten an aggregate of 94 lengths in his first two races this season and took a tired fall in the Irish Gold Cup last time out
Inothwayurthinkin is back on track for the Cheltenham Gold Cup(Image: Getty Images)
Inothewayurthinkin is back on course to defend his crown in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup in two weeks. The Gavin Cromwell-trained eight-year-old had the chasing world at his feet when he denied Galopin Des Champs a hat-trick of triumphs in the National Hunt Festival’s feature race last March.
Things took a sharp turn for the worse when Inothewayurthinkin was beaten an aggregate of 94 lengths on his first two outings of the campaign. And Cromwell conceded the JP McManus-owned gelding’s title defence was “up in the air” after a tired fall at the final fence of the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last time out.
But McManus’s racing manager Frank Berry revealed the spark to have returned in Inothewayurthinkin’s homework this week.
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“Gavin is very happy with the way he’s going and hopefully he will come round in time,” reported Berry. “Touch wood, all is good with him so far and he’ll be going there.”
Inothewayurthinkin is 12-1 with William Hill to become the 10th horse in the Gold Cup’s 102-year history to win the race twice.
Inothewayurthinkin: has disappointed so far this season(Image: Getty Images)
Now connections will make a final decision over whether the son of Walk In The Park will be in the Gold Cup line-up on March 13 after Inothewayurthinkin has been put through his paces during the next few days.
“He will do a serious bit at the weekend or early next week and they will make up their minds,” added Berry.
“But all good so far. At the minute, everything is good with him and they seem very happy.”
Inothewayurthinkin is seventh in the betting for the Gold Cup with Jango Baie currently the 9-2 favourite with William Hill of those entered.
Fact To File is actually shorter at 4-1 but he still needs to be supplemented for the race and may opt for the Ryanair Chase instead.
The Jukebox Man and Gaelic Warrior are both 11-2 although there is also a possibility that the latter may go for the Ryanair.
Galopin Des Champs has drifted out to 7-1 with Haiti Couleurs at 8-1.