Walk In The Park’s Inothewayurthinkin Lifts Cheltenham Gold Cup

Inothewayurthinkin (7g Walk In The Park – Sway, by Califet) produced a hugely impressive performance to land the Cheltenham Gold Cup for Mark Walsh, Gavin Cromwell, owner J.P. McManus and breeder Noreen McManus.

The son of Walk In The Park ran out a commanding winner of the Kim Muir Chase at last year’s meeting, and went on to win the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree. Reunited with Walsh on Friday, he raced towards the back of the field for much of the way and caught the eye when making headway from three out.

Quickening into second at the penultimate fence, he leapt into the lead at the last and kept on strongly to beat the reigning champion, Galopin Des Champs, by six lengths, with another 12 lengths back to the third.

“To have a runner in the Gold Cup is fantastic, to win it is unbelievable,” said a delighted Gavin Cromwell. “I’m so grateful to JP and Noreen for sending horses like this to me. I’m just delighted to be able to repay them by winning the Gold Cup .

“Galopin Des Champs was a dual Gold Cup winner, but we were coming here to try and win the race – we weren’t coming to pick up the pieces. We thought we’d have a good chance if everything was right.”

On whether they would now attempt to complete the Gold Cup/Grand National double, Cromwell commented: “I don't know. We'll get him home from this and I'll have a chat with Frank Berry and JP and we'll see.”

The winning rider added: “It’s brilliant. It’s something you dream of when you’re a kid wanting to be a jockey, winning the Gold Cup and the Grand National and things like that, so it’s a dream come true.

“I’d love him to go to Aintree, but that decision will be up to JP and Gavin.”

Inothewayurthinkin is a full-brother to Limerick Lace (Walk In The Park), who won the Grade 2 mares’ chase at last year’s Festival.