Cromwell: updates on Inothewayurthinkin plus other stable stars

William Hill ambassador Gavin Cromwell has revealed that he is aiming to get Inothewayurthinkin back on track for the Irish Gold Cup. 

Speaking in his William Hill blog, Cromwell said: “We were very disappointed with Inothewayurthinkin in the Savills Chase.He never travelled in the race and he barely even travelled to the start. The main thing is that he’s come out of it sound, we’ve done all our usual checks and we didn’t find anything wrong.

“He seems to be freshening up a bit and hopefully we can get him back on track. He’ll have an entry in the Irish Gold Cup and that’s where we want to go next with him. He’s still working away fine at home, and we know the ability is there, we just have to get him right.”

Grade One winner Hello Neighbour finished fifth at Leopardstown of Christmas, and Cromwell has suggested he could be lined up for the William Hill County Hurdle in March.

“I thought Hello Neighbour ran well on his reappearance in the December Hurdle, but he was no match for Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead,” Cromwell said. “That said, he ran with promise and we were happy with him.

“He doesn’t have an entry in the Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival and he’ll probably go in the two-mile handicap. It’s unlikely that he’s going to be classy enough for the Champion Hurdle and as five-year-old he’s probably more of a William Hill County Hurdle horse. “

Cromwell also noted that star mare Only By Night is ready to step up in trip in the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

He said: “Only By Night’s run in the Grade 1 was a frustrating one after she was hampered. Marine Nationale was also hindered, and he made up much more ground, but he’s a much quicker horse. She just got shuffled back and couldn’t get into the race again.

“She made up a lot of ground from the third last to the last, then she got a bit tired. On the whole, I was happy enough with the run given how it unfolded. I’m pretty confident, unless the ground is very testing, that she’ll have no problem stepping up to two-and-a-half miles for the Mares’ Chase.”

Velka Pardubicka hero Stumptown could head straight to the Cheltenham Festival, where Cromwell is assembling a crack three-strong team for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.

Stumptown was sent off the 5-2 favourite when romping to victory in the Festival’s most unique event in 2025 and his handler has no qualms about defending his title on the back of just one run this season, when landing a famous victory on Czech soil.

Cromwell said: “Stumptown had a break after the Pardubicka but is fine. He’s back in full work now and we’re happy with him.

“He’ll probably just go straight there to Cheltenham I would say.”

Joining Stumptown in the Cotswolds in March could be stablemates Vanillier and Final Orders who have both also shown a liking to the challenge of cross-country racing.

Vanillier was third to Stumptown at the Festival last year, while Final Orders excelled in a similar event at Cheltenham in December and are likely to be given a further chance to state their claims at Prestbury Park on Trials day later this month.

Cromwell added: “Vanillier and Final Orders will have an entry the cross-country race at Cheltenham on Trials day.

“Hopefully we will have a nice team for the race at the Festival.”