Galopin des Champs was denied a third Cheltenham Gold Cup by Inothewayurthinkin who stormed up the hill to win by six lengths.
Galopin des Champs, who was bidding to join Golden Miller, Cottage Rake, Arkle and Best Mate as the winner of at least three Cheltenham Gold Cups, jumped on at the third last and held every chance, but Inothewayurthinkin tracked him into the straight going well, hit the front on the approach to the final fence and stayed on strongly to win decisively.
Inothewayurthinkin, who had been supplemented for the race by owner JP McManus, was providing jockey Mark Walsh and trainer Gavin Cromwell with a first victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He was sent off the 15/2 third choice in the market.
It was a second Gold Cup win for McManus, following Synchronised's victory in 2012. As was the case with Synchronised, the win took on extra significance as Inothewayurthinkin was bred by McManus's wife, Noreen.
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The winning rider said: "I'm dancing inside. It's brilliant, I can't believe it. They went a nice gallop and he jumped well on the whole, he just missed the ditch going down the back the last time.
"Paul [Townend on Galopin des Champs] was on my outside and early on he was missing a few fences and I just thought Paul wasn't that happy, so I was happy to see that."
It was a second win at the Cheltenham Festival for Inothewayurthinkin who was a hugely impressive winner of the Kim Muir Handicap Chase last year but had clearly progressed.
Walsh added: "In fairness to this fella he's after doing some growing up in the past year. Gavin Cromwell is a genius, the way he trained him and had him spot on for the day.
"He's a homebred which makes it extra special so I'm delighted."
'He has improved all season'
The victory capped a fine season for Cromwell who has already registered his highest tally of winners in Ireland and was on the scoresheet at this year's Festival with Stumptown in the Cross Country Chase on Wednesday.
This was the third of Cheltenham's four traditional championship contests that Cromwell has won, following victories for Espoir D'Allen - who was owned by McManus - in the 2019 Champion Hurdle and for Flooring Porter in the 2021 and 2022 Stayers' Hurdles.
Cromwell said: "I don’t know what to say as it is absolutely massive. I never thought I would have a horse good enough to run in a Gold Cup, let alone win. A huge thank you to JP and Noreen as to have horses like this is unbelievable.
"It is unbelievable and it will probably take a while to sink in. I’m absolutely thrilled. I didn’t think we were travelling particularly well as just on that ground he looked to be flat out.
"He jumped well on the whole, although he made one mistake at the ditch down the back. I knew they went good and hard and that was going to play to our strengths as he stays really well. What can I say? He turned in and jumped the last and galloped out to the line. It was fantastic. He is just an improving horse.
"He improved through the season last season. He has improved all season this season. He started off over two and a half miles, but the further he has gone the better he has been."
Inothewayurthinkin was cut to a general 3/1 for the Randox Grand National - in which he would avoid a penalty - but Cromwell said he would have to speak to McManus and racing advisor Frank Berry on plans.
'He was jumping too big and he wasn’t jumping well enough'
Willie Mullins had won the first four races on the card, taking his tally to the meeting to 10, but a third Cheltenham Gold Cup for Galopin des Champs is the race he will have wanted above all others.
Galopin des Champs ultimately had his chance, but Mullins wasn't happy with how the 8/13 favourite was going for much of the race as he failed to travel with his usual verve and wasn't able to get in a prominent position.
Mullins said: "I just thought he was never happy until they got to the fourth last. During the race he was too far out of his ground and he wasn’t jumping well enough to be in the race. He was uncomfortable. Maybe drying ground might not have helped.
"I thought we missed all that [when Ahoy Senor fell] and I thought that might wake him up as he was just idle.
"When he jumped off he was only in seventh. He was jumping too big and he wasn’t jumping well enough. I was hoping something would get beside him and make him jump. To me he wasn’t racing.
"The only time he got competitive was when they came around the fourth last at the top of the hill, and it looked all right.
"I just think he used too much of his powder jumping too big, but a good horse won it."
'Everything was a bit laboured on him'
Townend, who was seeking a record fifth victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, was proud of Galopin des Champs' effort but confirmed his mount didn't travel as well as usual. He said: “I was never really confident on him. Maybe the ground was a bit quicker than it has been over the years. I’m not making excuses - we were beaten on the day by a better, younger one.
"Everything was a bit laboured on him, but he’s tried his heart out. He doesn’t owe us anything and he’s in one piece. He just wasn’t happy, I think; everything was a bit of an effort.
"He still gave it a crack, didn’t he? We’re second in the Gold Cup, anyway. I was happiest the couple of jumps back up the hill the last time round, but I was hoping rather than being confident that he was going to come alive for me there, to be honest."
Third place, 12 lengths behind Galopin des Champs, was taken by 40/1 shot Gentlemansgame whose trainer Mouse Morris said: "I’m very happy. He ran his heart out and jumped super. He just lacks a gear, but he will stay all day. He is as honest as the day comes."
There was a sad postscript, however, as Corbetts Cross, owned by McManus, was reported to have suffered a fatal injury after falling two out.
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