Connections of shock Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin have passed up the opportunity to go after an almost unprecedented double in the Grand National next month.
In a Cheltenham Festival strewn with faltering favourites, Inothewayurthinkin surprised the racing world by denying Galopin Des Champs a third consecutive Gold Cup victory. Despite being a late entry to the race, trainer Gavin Cromwell’s bold decision to supplement the horse for £25,000 paid off handsomely, securing the prestigious title and a prize fund exceeding £360,000.
In the immediate aftermath of that victory, speculation mounted over whether the seven-year-old would attempt to make history at Aintree. Only one horse, Golden Miller in 1934, has ever won both the Gold Cup and Grand National in the same year. If Inothewayurthinkin lined up on April 12, he could have become the first horse in 91 years to achieve the elusive double.
Inothewayurthinkin’s Grand National odds were slashed from 8/1 to just 3/1, but ultimately owner JP McManus and trainer Gavin Cromwell were put off by the short turnaround, with the famous Aintree race taking place on 5th April. Instead, Inothewayurthinkin will head to Ireland at the end of April, with an intention to run the Punchestown Gold Cup.
Stumptown stakes his claim
The withdrawal of Inothewayurthinkin from the list of Grand National runners has resulted in a significant shake-up of the latest betting odds, and it’s a pair of Gavin Cromwell’s horses who could be set to take advantage.
The first is Stumptown, who was one of the relatively few favourites to win at Cheltenham this year when securing victory in the Cross Country Chase. It was a confident display from Stumptown, staying on strongly to deny Latenightpass, who had led for much of the race but faded in the closing stages.
Stumptown’s impressive victory has significantly enhanced his credentials for Aintree, with bookmakers halving his odds from 20/1 to 10/1. The manner in which he handled the unique challenges of the Cross Country course bodes well for his ability to take on the formidable National fences.
The victory extended Stumptown’s winning streak to four-in-a-row, and connections can be optimistic for the Grand National, given previous Cross Country Chase winners include a former National winner in Tiger Roll, plus last year’s National runner-up in Delta Work.
Vanillier eyes redemption
Vanillier, who finished second in the 2023 Grand National, remains another strong contender for Gavin Cromwell. Despite an early mistake at Cheltenham, when he lost a huge amount of time by taking a different course, he showed great stamina to recover and ultimately claim third place by Stumptown.
A proven stayer, Vanillier has the experience and knowhow required for Aintree, with his Grand National odds cut from 33/1 to 14/1 following his encouraging run at Cheltenham. If he can produce a cleaner round of jumping at Aintree, he has every chance of improving on the runner-up finish from 2023. And, as a beautiful grey, he’s sure to prove a popular pick with once-a-year punters.
Intense Raffles the new favourite
Despite the potential that Cromwell’s duo both have, it’s actually Intense Raffles that heads the betting now, from Iroko and last year’s winner, I Am Maximus.
Intense Raffles began 2024 in fine form, winning a trio of races that most notably included the Irish National. This season has been more of a slog thus far though, with a run of ninth, fourteenth and second not exuding a huge amount of confidence.
Iroko and I Am Maximus will both carry the famous green and gold hoops of JP McManus, and head to Aintree fresh after missing Cheltenham earlier this month. Iroko does have pedigree as a previous Festival winner, but he’ll have to reverse a run of three second place finishes in five runs to avoid another case of always the bridesmaid and never the bride.
As for I Am Maximus, he’s another that is sure to be popular on the day, as the former champion returns to defend his crown. He’s been lightly raced this season, with just two runs to his name since last April, but that’s unlikely to deter those who’ll remember his achievements from 12 months ago with real fondness.
Article written by Anthony Vella
