Winning The Gold Cup Is The Worst Think Inothewayurthinkin Will Ever Do

Today was yet another poor showing by the reigning Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin, and with the Cheltenham Festival only a month away his chances of regaining the title look extremely slim. His hopes were somewhat high today in a packed field, however a subpar performance followed by a fall at the last has pretty much put all of his Gold Cup hopes to bed, and winning last year's renewal may have been the worst thing for his career.

Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin produced one of the best racing stories for years after miraculously winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup after being supplemented by owner JP McManus. Having dethroned two time winner Galopin Des Champs at last years festival, hopes were high that this year he would be the 10 year olds main challenger yet again, however three outings in Ireland so far have been nothing short of dreadful, and have effectively ended all hope of him coming back to the winners enclosure in March.

A John Durkan disappointment at the start of the season was an easily forgotten race over an inadequate trip and race readiness, and the Savills chase performance over Christmas was also easily written off due to a poor ride, however his redemption opportunity in the PaddyPower Gold Cup today was far from ideal, and raises the question to whether a Gold Cup campaign was even a remotely good idea this year. 

Although last year's triumphant Gold Cup victory warranted a go at this year's renewal, Inothewayurthinking wasn’t an ideal Gold Cup candidate, preferring a longer trip, and despite something special happening on the day, it still doesn't suit. They say Cheltenham Festival form always holds up and he could return to form over in England, however what really has ruined his season was the fact he won the Gold Cup, and pushed himself into another Gold Cup campaign.

Before winning the contest last year, Inothewayurthinkin was the favourite for the Grand National at Aintree, and was a highly routed stayer who looked poised and prepped for an ideal test of class and stamina. Subsequently winning the Gold Cup led to him being withdrawn from the Grand National, and has since geared Gavin Cromwell and his team at taking another shot at Cheltenham rather than aiming for the National.

Although he is now rated 176 and would carry the top weight and probably would fare too well in the national, he is still your ideal Grand National horse. An out and out stayer, and horse who would relish the course and distance, but now, that Gold Cup winning mark may have ended those hopes, and winning the big one last March had driven his career to the completely wrong direction.