JP McMANUS declared “I will treasure this” after Inothewayurthinkin’s sensational Gold Cup win at Cheltenham.
The Mark Walsh-ridden horse stunned Paul Townend and Galopin Des Champs at Prestbury Cup on Friday.
It was owner JP McManus’ second ever Gold Cup, with his previous being won by Synchronised in 2012.
And the Limerick billionaire told ITV: “You have to enjoy these moments.
“They are so long in the making. We have had this animal since he was a foal. Home bred.”
The seven-year-old was sired by Derby runner-up Walk In The Park, but McManus revealed that the story could have gone a very different way.
The Limerick GAA financier said: “As a yearling, he was at Newmarket and Charles O’Brien. We were buying the horse.
“He failed the vet so, luckily for me, we never got him because I would have had him gelded and I would have never won the Gold Cup.
“The lord works in mysterious ways. It is a very exciting time and I will treasure it.”
Galopin Des Champs was the overwhelming favourite to win a third Gold Cup on the bounce.
Paul Townend, meanwhile, had the chance to become the most successful jockey in the race’s history had he won his fifth.
Willie Mullins’ awesome chaser was almost taken out when Ahoy Senor fell but looked to be travelling brilliantly rounding the bend.
Yet Inothewayurthinkin, who wasn’t originally in the race and had to be supplemented at a cost of £25,000, kept creeping closer and closer.
He pinged the last with Galopin Des Champs on his last legs and stormed home up the hill to secure yet another result for the bookies and win at 15-2.
Galopin Des Champs clung on for second at 8-13 while Gentlemansgame was third at 40-1.
While portraying a calm exterior on the outside, on the inside Mark Walsh was beaming.
And he told ITV: “I am dancing inside. Brilliant. I can’t believe it.
“He went a good gallop. He jumped well on the whole. He just missed the ditch going down the back here last time.
“Paul was on the outside and early on he was missing a few fences and I just thought Paul wasn’t happy.
“I was happy to see that now but fair play to this fella. He is after doing some growing up the past year.
“Gavin Cromwell (trainer) is a genius. He had him spot on today.”
