Inothewayurthinkin Grand National decision not expected for at least a week says JP McManus

JP McManus warned the media not to expect a decision in the next week, but the entire complexion of this year's Randox Grand National now revolves around whether he and trainer Gavin Cromwell opt to run Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin again at Aintree.

The seven-year-old has been favourite for the Grand National in most lists since being allocated a rating of 160, meaning he is likely to be about a stone well in if he lines up at Aintree in 22 days' time.

Inothewayurthinkin was as short as 7-1 for the National with Betfred and Unibet before denying Galopin Des Champs a historic third Gold Cup, and is now no bigger than 3-1 for Aintree.

It is 91 years since Golden Miller became the only horse to do the double in the same season, winning what was then considered the superior of the two races 17 days after claiming the third of his five Cheltenham victories.

Dorothy Paget leads in Golden Miller after winning the 1934 NationalCredit: Unknown

"Let's celebrate this," said McManus. "We'll savour today and see. The Gold Cup is a tough race and I have to look at what would be fair to the horse. I'll see what Gavin says, but don't expect a decision in the next week."

Cromwell was even less ready to commit, although he didn't immediately shut down the idea of bidding for racing history with Inothewayurthinkin.

"I really don't know. I really don't know," said Cromwell. "I suppose you can't rule it out but we'll enjoy today. I suppose it's a conversation that we'll have with JP and Frank [Berry, McManus's racing manager]."  I suppose you can't rule it out but we'll enjoy today."

McManus has eight entries in the 2025 National headed by last year's winner, the Willie Mullins-trained I Am Maximus, who, should he run, will have top weight of 11st 10lb, ensuring that Inothewayurthinkin would run off 11st 5lb.

Of the potential green-and-gold National squad, I Am Maximus and Iroko are trading at 12-1, while Meetingofthewaters and the Cromwell-trained Perceval Legallois are 25-1 chances and Capodanno can be backed at 66-1.

Gold Cup winners who have tried to double up at Aintree are rare, with the Jenny Pitman-trained Garrison Savannah coming closest to matching Golden Miller when second to Seagram in 1991.

The owner himself will need no reminding that his only previous Gold Cup winner, Synchronised, was similarly well handicapped for the National on 161, but lost his life when running loose after a fall in the race in 2012, the last year before major modifications were made to the Aintree fences, with the wooden cores replaced by more forgiving plastic.

Read more . . .

Can Inothewayurthinkin complete a famous Gold Cup-Grand National double? Three tipsters have their say 

Inothewayurthinkin thwarts Galopin Des Champs hat-trick bid to land Gold Cup for JP McManus 

'He'll always be a legend and people love him' - Galopin Des Champs camp react to Gold Cup defeat 

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