Cromwell expecting Inothewayurthinkin to play his part at Christmas

Reigning Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin is preparing for his second run of the campaign and “very much on track” to line up in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over the Christmas period.

The seven-year-old, who is trained by Gavin Cromwell and owned by JP McManus, took the Cheltenham flagship event last term after filling the minor places in the John Durkan, Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup, form he turned around in style at the Festival.

The same route through the year seems to await him this time, with his comeback run a fifth-placed effort in the John Durkan that Cromwell expects will have blown away the cobwebs.

“He’s come out of Punchestown very well and he’s very much on track for Christmas,” the trainer said.

“He will come on from the run, and he should be happy to be stepping back up in trip again.

“His jumping has improved a lot from last season, so we’d be hoping he could go a lot closer in this race than he did last year.”

Cromwell trains another Cheltenham Festival winner in Stumptown, who landed the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the showpiece meeting in March before returning this autumn to record a famous success in the daunting Velka Pardubicka.

After his trip to the Czech Republic he has been given a rest, but is now back in training with a return to Prestbury Park in the spring his big aim for the season.

“He had a break after the Pardubicka, but he’s back in work now and he’s doing well,” Cromwell added.

“The Cheltenham Festival is very much his target, but he may have a run beforehand, possibly over hurdles.”