"You certainly can't rule it out" - Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin could head to the Grand National

The stage was set for Galopin Des Champs' shot at immortality on Friday. Willie Mullins' star was attempting to win his third-straight Cheltenham Gold Cup - a feat that legends like Best Mate, Arkle and Golden Miller achieved.

Paul Townend never looked completely happy aboard the odds-on favourite. Having set out fairly handily, Galopin Des Champs dropped steadily back through the field and was forced to swerve a collision with Ahoy Senor when Lucinda Russell's front-runner crashed out at the seventh-last.

Turning for home, Townend managed to get the favourite in a position to challenge. Yet, it was Mark Walsh who seemed to be travelling best on Inothewayurthinkin, who sprinter up the Cheltenham Hill to win National Hunt racing's most famous race.

Gavin Cromwell celebrated a first victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. For Walsh, it was also a first victory in Cheltenham's showpiece event, and to do so aboard a home-bred for owner JP McManus made the victory even sweeter.

As they do in racing, thoughts immediately turned to future plans for Inothewayurthinkin, who topped the betting for the Grand National before his Cheltenham success. Only the great Golden Miller has ever won the Gold Cup and the Grand National in the same season, and there are just three weeks between the two races this year. Yet, Cromwell seemed keen to give the race a go when he spoke to the press on Friday evening.

"We'll all catch our breath." Cromwell said, "We'll get the horse home and then it's a conversation to be had."

"You certainly can't rule it out and it is tempting."

Mark Walsh, who missed out on riding I Am Maximus in the race 12 months ago, also seemed keen to give the Grand National a crack. 

"I'd love him to go." said Walsh. "I'd love him to go but the welfare of the horse comes first. We'll have to see how he comes out of it, and I'll leave the decision up to JP (McManus, owner) and to Gavin."