JP McManus supplements former Cheltenham Festival winner into Gold Cup line-up for £25,000

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JP McMANUS has coughed up £25,000 to add the antepost Grand National favourite Inothewayurthinkin into the Cheltenham Gold Cup field.

He will form part of a maximum field of 10 for Friday’s big race, with Galopin Des Champs still the red-hot favourite at the final confirmation stage.

Inothewayurthinkin and jockey Mark Walsh winning a horse race.

Inothewayurthinkin has been supplemented for the Gold Cup[/caption]

The Gavin Cromwell-trained Inothewayurthinkin landed a huge gamble when bolting up in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival last year.

He’s been a slow burner this season but ran well to finish fourth behind Gold Cup jolly Galopin Des Champs at the Dublin Racing Festival last time.

And with JP’s other top chaser, Fact To File, set to drop back in trip for the Ryanair Chase, he has called up his classy seven-year-old to play the role of super sub.

The horse is a general 7-1 shot for the Gold Cup and Cromwell said: “He seems to be very well in himself and he’s progressing nicely.

“Just like last season, he seems to be improving as the season goes on.

“He did a nice piece of work this week and I don’t think he will be far away in the Gold Cup.”

While Fact To File was taken out of the Gold Cup picture, McManus could have a second horse to take on Galopin Des Champs after Corbetts Cross was left in by Emmet Mullins.

Long-time second favourite Banbridge, who won the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, remains in contention.

Ahoy Senor, The Real Whacker and Royale Pagaille will form the British Gold Cup challenge, but Venetia Williams has decided against running L’Homme Presse in the Blue Riband.