Inothewayurthinkin set to make reappearance in Betfair Chase
He will bypass the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown for a trip to Merseyside.
Gavin Cromwell has confirmed his Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin is set to make his seasonal reappearance in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.
The JP McManus-owned eight-year-old was a brilliant winner of the blue riband event at Prestbury Park in 2025 and while he has largely struggled since, a third-placed finish behind Gaelic Warrior when defending his Gold Cup crown in March offered hope for the future.
In each of the past two seasons Inothewayurthinkin has kicked off his campaign in the John Durkan Memorial Chase over two and a half miles at Punchestown, but having been found wanting on both occasions, Cromwell is this year planning a trip to Merseyside.
“We decided against starting Inothewayurthinkin in the John Durkan this season with him being run off his feet in the race the past couple of years. The race at Haydock looks a good starting place for him and we’re hoping for some rain between now and then so the ground suits,” he told William Hill.
“Looking at the other entries, it seems like there’s a good chance we’ll have a lot more runners in there than last year. The likes of Heart Wood and Affordale Fury coming over from Ireland because they skipped Down Royal due to the quick ground make it a stronger field. The trip is better for him and hopefully he’ll be able to get into a nice rhythm around there in a bigger field.
“He hasn’t been a fast starter in the past couple of seasons, but this race should give him a better chance of a good result at this point of the season. He’s coming along nicely at home, so hopefully he keeps going in that direction and we see the best of him again this season.”
Inothewayurthinkin features among 19 initial entries for the Betfair Chase on November 21, with the sponsors making last year’s winner Grey Dawning their 11-10 favourite.
Henry de Bromhead’s Heart Wood is next in the betting at 5-1 ahead of Salver (Jamie and Josh Moore), Iroko (Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero) and Affordale Fury (Noel Meade), who are all priced up at 7-1.