‘Proven over course and distance’ - Gavin Cromwell’s five best chances at the Cheltenham Festival

It hasn’t been the greatest of seasons so far for leading Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell but he’s such a shrewd operator that it’s always dangerous to write him off.

With that in mind, we’ve picked out his five best chances of a winner at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

Will the Wise - National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase

Will The Wise was useful over hurdles last term, winning in maiden and handicap company, before finishing a respectable sixth in the Pertemps Final at last year’s Cheltenham Festival. That performance was certainly promising and he has won over fences this term.

Scoring comfortably at Galway in October, he then went on to finish fourth in the Troytown, where he stayed on well. A mark of 138 looks pretty workable and there’s a good chance that the marathon trip could encourage further improvement.

Stumptown - Cross Country Chase

Cromwell’s strong-staying chaser Stumptown was last seen winning the Velka Pardubicka and his record at Cheltenham isn’t to be sniffed at either. He was a neck away from winning the Kim Muir back in 2023 and is unbeaten in two starts on the Cross Country course.

His seven-length success in this race last year is right up there with the best form on offer and it’ll be a surprise if he isn’t bang in the mix once again. Currently the ante-post favourite, he’s number one on the list of Cromwell’s most likely winners at Cheltenham.

Only By Night - Grand Annual Chase

A Listed winner in her bumper days, Only By Night also went on to win a maiden hurdle at Naas in good style. Things didn’t quite go to plan over hurdles after that but the switch to fences worked wonders and she won a Grade 2 novice chase in good style back in 2024.

She came out on top in the Barberstown Castle Chase, a Grade 3 event, on seasonal debut and ran a cracker to finish second in the Arkle. The mare is now proven over course and distance and should be one to consider in the Grand Annual on Day 2.

Now Is The Hour - Kim Muir Challenge Cup

Handicaps can be a sensible route to achieving Cheltenham Festival winners when you don’t have the ammunition for the big Grade 1s. That’s something Cromwell has done well over the years and Now Is The Hour should have a big chance.

There was plenty to like about his win in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran last month and he needed every yard of the 3m1f trip to get his head in front on the line. A longer trip and Cheltenham’s stiff finish should help on that front and a big run is expected.

Inothewayurthinkin - Gold Cup

This season has been an absolute disaster for Inothewayurthinkin and he has looked like a shadow of himself in three starts so far. Weak in the betting on all three occasions, the 2025 Gold Cup winner is definitely capable of better.

Perhaps he’s an improved horse in the spring, as he won the Kim Muir as a novice and followed up in a Grade 1 at Aintree. Proven course and distance form is huge in a Gold Cup and he might end up being a decent each-way price if heading to Cheltenham to defend his crown.