Cromwell taking the positives from Gold Cup hero’s return

Gavin Cromwell is keen to take the positives from Inothewayurthinkin’s reappearance in the John Durkan, confirming his Cheltenham Gold Cup hero will march on to the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over the Christmas period.

Starting out over a distance short of his optimum, the seven-year-old upgraded last year’s seventh to fifth, but failed to make any impact in a race which saw Willie Mullins’ Gaelic Warrior edge out Fact To File in a thrilling finish.

Nevertheless, Cromwell was satisfied with his stable star’s performance and told William Hill: “We’re taking the positives from Inothewayurthinkin’s reappearance in the John Durkan.

“He was flat out all the way and just taken off his feet a bit because they went a ferocious gallop over an inadequate trip for him. He was beaten a lot further than last year, but this was a completely different race. Nothing other than Fact To File really got involved in the race with Gaelic Warrior.

“I thought he jumped well and he kept himself in the race with his jumping. He stayed going well at the line, so we’ll take those positives out of it. He’s home safe and sound, and that’s all we can really take out of it.

“Nothing has changed in our minds about following the same route with the Savills Chase, Irish Gold Cup and Cheltenham Gold Cup. He’s back home and riding out again – it’s all systems go for Christmas.”

Cromwell is still to decide if his Arkle runner-up Only By Night will tackle the Tingle Creek at Sandown or Huntingdon’s Peterborough Chase a day later after her winning return at Naas in the Barberstown Castle Chase.

He added: “Only By Night has an entry in the Tingle Creek at Sandown next month. There’s nothing set in stone, but it’s certainly on her radar.

“The Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon is the next day and she’ll probably have an entry there as well. We’ll see how those races shape up and make a decision closer to the time.

“She’s proven she can run against the boys and it’s all about plotting our course to Cheltenham appropriately.”