Gold Cup Winner Inothewayurthinkin WON’T Run In The Grand National, Says Trainer Gavin Cromwell

Recent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin holds and entry in the 2025 Aintree Grand National, but his trainer Gavin Cromwell has said he WON’T run in the famous race – and will be pulled out at the next scratching stage.

Inothewayurthinkin Had Looked Well-In To Give Cromwell His First National Win

With the 2025 Grand National weights coming out in February and set in stone, then after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup the Gavin Cromwell-trained Inothewayurthinkin looked a ‘good thing’ off his old rating of 160.

Since that Cheltenham Festival win the handicapper has hiked him up to a mark of 175 – meaning he’d be running in the Grand National off a 15lb lower rating.

Which is why the best horse racing betting sites in the UK were running scared – making him as short as 5/2 favourite for the Grand National on Saturday 5th April.

However, with the Gold Cup dust now settling – the news coming out of the Cromwell camp is that Inothewayurthinkin WON’T run in the world’s famous steeplechase.

He’ll be taken out at the next scratching stage.

However, Gavin Cromwell added the Punchestown Gold Cup on April 30th remains a possibility for his star staying chaser.

Horses Aged 7 Don’t Have The Best Grand National Record

This might be to do with the Aintree Grand National Festival date being only three weeks apart from Cheltenham this season.

Or, more likely that connections don’t want to risk their Gold Cup winner so soon after Cheltenham in a race that can often require a lot of luck in running.

The horse is also still only aged 7 – and the Grand National has a habit of throwing up winners aged a bit older.

Since 1940 – there have only been two winners of the race aged 7, so this lack of experience over some tricky fences might have also played a part.

Owner JP McManus might also be mindful that his last Gold Cup winner Synchronised also took in the National that same season and sadly fractured a leg after falling at the sixth fence and carrying on riderless – sustaining his injury later in the race.

Inothewayurthinkin would have been looking to become only the second horse to win the Gold Cup and National in the same season. Golden Miller landed the famous double in 1934.

Gavin Cromwell Told The Racing Post

“We’ve decided to take Inothewayurthinkin out of the Grand National. He’s only seven and we’ve worked so hard on his jumping this season that we feel it just might be a backward step to run him at Aintree. We’re absolutely delighted to win a Gold Cup and it might be asking a bit much of him to try to win a Grand National as well at the age of seven.

“He came out of the Gold Cup in great shape and he has the option of running in the Punchestown Gold Cup at the end of April. We’ll see how he is over the next few weeks before making a decision on that, but he won’t be running in the Grand National anyway. 

“We feel it’s the best thing to do by the horse. As I said, we’re delighted to win a Gold Cup. It’s a day we’ll never forget.”

As a result, the new Grand National favourite for 2025 is Intense Raffles. He’ll be looking to add last season’s Irish National win to his CV.

WATCH: Inothewayurthinkin Winning The 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup

 Other Horses To Be Scratched From The 2025 Grand National

Gavin Cromwell Still Hunting His First Grand National Winner

Inothewayurthinkin’s trainer – Gavin Cromwell – is still to win the biggest prize in jumps racing.

He saddled the joint-favourite 12 months ago in Limerick Lace. Who was also owned by JP McManus but could only manage 10th.

Cromwell also came close in 2023 when his grey 8 year-old Vanillier was second. Beaten only 2 1/4 lengths behind Corach Rambler (watch below).

JP McManus Still Has a Strong Grand National Hand

Despite his Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin now a likely Grand National non-runner top owner JP McManus still have plenty to go to war with in the big race.

He’s, of course got, last year’s winner I Am Maximus, who is now rated 8lbs higher. He’ll be looking to join Tiger Roll and Red Rum as 2+ winners of the race.

JP McManus also has his 2023 Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle winner Iroko entered. Plus, last year’s 7th Meetingofthewaters and Dublin Racing Festival scorer Perceval Legallois.

McManus is currently the joint-most winning Grand National owner with three wins.

JP McManus-Owned Grand National Winners

Grand National Leading Owners

• JP McManus – 3 wins (Don’t Push It, 2010; Minella Times, 2021; I Am Maximus, 2024)
• Trevor Hemmings – 3 wins (Hedgehunter, 2005; Ballabriggs, 2011; Many Clouds, 2015)
• Gigginstown House Stud – 3 wins (Rule The World, 2016; Tiger Roll, 2018; 2019)
• James Octavius Machell – 3 wins (Disturbance, 1873; Reugny, 1874; Regal, 1876)
• Sir Charles Assheton-Smith (previously Charles Duff) – 3 wins (Cloister, 1893; Jerry M, 1912; Covertcoat, 1913)
• Noel Le Mare – 3 wins (Red Rum, 1973, 1974, 1977)

Aintree Grand National 2025 Race Details

📅Date: Saturday 5th April 2025
⌚Time: 4:00pm
🏇Racecourse: Aintree
🔄Trip: 4m 2 1/2f
💷Winner: £500,000
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV