Thinkin' of Gold once again

CROMWELL PLOTS REPEAT WIN WITH SLIMMER CHAMP

- BY BRIAN FLANAGAN

GAVIN Cromwell has said his returning Gold Cup hero Iknowthewayurthinkin is “not as fat as last year" as he plots back to back wins at Cheltenham next March.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old denied the three-in-a-row dreams of Galopin Des Champs eight months ago with amemorable 15-2 success in the Cotswolds.

Cromwell and McManus resisted the temptation to exploit a lenient mark in the following month's Grand National at Aintree and the son of Walk In The Park has been rested since his Gold Cup win.

Cromwell reports his stable star to be in fine form and will begin the defence of his Gold Cup crown with a seasonal debut in Punchestown's John Durkan Chase, a race he finished down the field in 12 months ago.

“Yeah, he’s great. He's a bit more forward and further on than he was this time last year” said Cromwell yesterday.

“Hes certainly a good bit fitter, he didn’t come back as heavy and fat, he’ a horse that can get very heavy but were happy with him. He did a bit of work at Navan a few weeks ago and we're on target.”

Iknowthewayurthinkin’s Gold Cup success came six years after the Meath-based handler won the Champion Hurdle with Espoir D’Allen and he's now cemented himself as one of the top jumps trainers in both islands.