In an era dominated by both Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott, breaking through the Irish ranks is akin to that of knocking Liverpool and Man City off their perch at the pinnacle of British Football. A seemingly impossible task, but the County Meath born Gavin Cromwell is creeping up the table in decisive fashion.
Having taken an unorthodox route into training, initially based in Flemington Australia, Cromwell took out his license in 2005 back home in Ireland to begin what was initially a slow voyage to prominence on the Irish scene. He bagged his first National Hunt winner in the 06/07 season, but three of the subsequent five seasons were met without a winner over obstacles, with a at campaign seemingly preferred. In 2015/16, Gavin Cromwell dramatically broke through the £100,000 prize money mark under both codes, demonstrating his Swiss-army knife like potential.
That included his first Grade 1 victory with Jen’s Girl landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice with Barry Geraghty doing the steering, becoming a valuable pin on his map to the top. The main turning point was Espoir D’Allen, who despite being just one of two runners at the Cheltenham Festival for Gavin Cromwell, landed the 2019 Champion Hurdle by a centennial record of 15 lengths under Mark Walsh for JP McManus. Espoir D’allen became only the second five year old to win the race since See You Then in 1987, and only the twelfth in history to take the prestigious honour.
Gavin Cromwell’s reputation has become one of a shrewd nature, with early season raids of Cheltenham paying off in abundance, and his overall profit margin at the course reads an impressive £20.62 to a £1 level stake.
Cromwell has sent out a further five winners since Espoir D’Allen, landing a three mile double in 2021 with Flooring Porter taking the Stayers’ Hurdle and Vanillier winning the Albert Bartlett, with the former retaining his crown a year later in a similar front running fashion. Cromwell landed two winners from his eight runs last season, with Inothewayurthinkin completing an almighty plot in the Kim Muir before going on to win the G1 Mildmay Chase at Aintree, and Limerick Lace continued her upward curve when gamely fending off Dinoblue to land the Mares Hurdle despite a drift on the day.
The rising star has built an admirable foundation in the National Hunt sphere and his growing reputation has been met with the support of an influx of high class horses and owners, and this season he brings his largest team by some way to Prestbury Park – a testament to his progress – in search of further Cheltenham Festival glory.
Stumptown – Laverock x Active Fieldgale (Beneficial) – Cross Country
Stumptown was agonisingly touched off in the 2023 Kim Muir for Gavin Cromwell off a mark of 135, but has since improved to take a 26k handicap at the course and arrives on the back of a hat trick of Cross Country events, latterly when a cheeky winner over 3m5f here in December. He’s taken to the discipline with aplomb and came there travelling like a very well handicapped horse under Keith Donoghue, but the handicapper has whacked him up to a mark of 157, thus meaning he’ll have to carry top weight. Though it will be a big ask after that revised mark, these Cross Country events tend to favour a classier type these days and this has evidently been the plan all season.
Now Is The Hour – Westerner x Keyaza (Azamour) – National Hunt Chase
Now Is The Hour is the 7/2 favourite for the National Hunt Challenge Chase, having been flagged as a potential plot for the long distance event around Christmas time. Having landed the G2 Albert Bartlett Prestige Trial last season, the former winning pointer (also second to Asian Master) has looked destined for fences and a trip and has qualified in a shrewd manner. He looked in need of further when second on chase debut last March, and that was again the case when a never dangerous sixth to Ile Atlantique at Navan on seasonal debut. He was upped to three miles next time out at Punchestown and again completing the course in his own time in rear, and it wasn’t until his four length fourth to Three Card Brag at Navan in January where we finally saw a reflection somewhat close to his true ability. The British handicapper hasn’t given him an inch off 139, but he’s almost Inothewayurthinkin-esque in that even for a lofty mark, there’s every chance he could be 10lbs well in now stepped up further in trip.
Sixandahalf – Snow Sky x Mandasini (Dr Massini) – Mares Novice
Sixandahalf is favourite for the Mares Novice Hurdle after a facile victory at Fairyhouse in January, travelling well throughout and making effortless headway before drawing twelve lengths clear of Qualimita, who franked that form to a degree when third to Vischio in a 50k handicap at Leopardstown. The daughter of Snow Sky was progressive on the flat last season, culminating with a length third in the Irish Cesarewitch and given she’s from the family the ’02 Challow winner Calling Brave, she’s bred to have a smart future over timber. She remains in the could be anything category, but in a somewhat weak edition of the Mares Novice, she certainly doesn’t look unwarranted at the head of the market.
Will The Wise – Well Chosen x Now Were Broke (Beneficial) – Pertemps
The final Pertemps Qualifier was won by Will The Wise for Gavin Cromwell who shot to prominence in the Pertemps betting after that two length success. The Well Chosen gelding has only been given a mark of 134 by the British Handicapper which looks quite fair, and his prole is reminiscent of one well mapped out for a contest of this nature. The Turtulla P2P winner cost £95k after his impressive win, and he backed that up under rules when beating Jacob’s Ladder a short head in a Punchestown bumper, with the second franking that form last time out now rated 133. He was then second to the highly touted Irancy who was an eye-catching third behind Firefox and Ballyburn on hurdles debut for Willie Mullins last season. The handicapping game was then well afoot, as he was beaten fty four lengths in the G2 Navan Hurdle behind The Yellow Clay and then caught the eye when staying on behind the subsequent Nathaniel Lacy winner and Turners favourite Final Demand, before regaining the winning thread over 2m6f at Punchestown, a race Cromwell won previously with subsequent Albert Bartlett third Letsbeclearaboutit. Being a half brother to smart mare Kissesforkatie, he has a progressive prole and this P2P, bumper and hurdles winner is only going one way
Total Look – Cloth Of Stars x Cat Nova (Hurricane Cat) – Boodles
The Fred Winter is as ever a murky picture at this stage, but a mark of 132 looks a workable one for Total Look who’s been carefully placed as ever by Gavin Cromwell for this contest. The Cloth Of Stars gelding is out of a listed winner on the at and he was progressive in that sphere himself. However, he showed an immediate aptitude for hurdling when landing a Navan juvenile hurdle in November to beat two subsequent winners in Beyond Your Dreams and Wendrock. He then came to Cheltenham for the Triumph Hurdle Trial and was beaten a neck by a pair that dead heated, staying on strongly having looked one paced after the last. That pair couldn’t live with East India Dock next time out, but Total Look caught the attentions of the stewards when a tenderly handled third at Punchestown next time out carrying 12-1, seemingly not handling heavy ground in the process. The second had previously beaten Bacchanalian at Limerick, who’s now rated 133 after bolting up in a Navan G3, so a mark of 132 looks certainly workable for Total Look, who’s jumping should conveniently be much sharper this time around.
The Cromwell army is strengthening rapidly, and this significantly larger Cheltenham battalion is reflective of the excellent operation he continues to build. With several chances at larger prices in handicaps and a couple of deserved favourites, Cromwell looks set to have his most successful festival yet in terms of prize money, for all that prestigious Cheltenham Festival Grade 1 may be one Festival away for now.
Looking For More Racing Info? Check Out Our Racecards & Top Tips Sections
Make sure you’re following us on all our social media platforms to keep up to date with all the latest horse racing news and the best tips.