The recent cold snap has offered racing enthusiasts a chance to reflect on the whirlwind of events that unfolded over the Christmas and New Year period.

One of the standout moments was the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase, which culminated in a nail-biting finish at Kempton on Boxing Day. The Jukebox Man narrowly claimed victory, just ahead of Banbridge, Gaelic Warrior, and Jango Baie, with all four contenders crossing the line within half a length of one another.

Following this festive period of racing, the landscape for Gold Cup betting has become particularly intriguing, with odds reflecting a competitive 6-1 field. This marks a significant shift from the previous year, when Galopin Des Champs dominated as the favorite throughout the season, only to be outperformed by Inothewayurthinkin on the day of the big race.

Despite the shake-up, the leading contenders in the market remain the formidable Irish duo who finished first and second last year. Galopin Des Champs, who was heavily backed, made a commendable return by placing third at Leopardstown in his seasonal debut. While there are questions about whether the ten-year-old has reached his zenith, he continues to be a formidable contender, especially if wet weather plays a role on race day.

It’s the big Irish pair and last year’s 1-2 that still hold sway at the top of an intriguing market. Galopin Des Champs was well-backed when third at Leopardstown on seasonal debut. A reasonable return to action but there are doubts the ten-year-old might be past his peak. However, there’s little doubt he remains a huge player. Particularly if rain arrives on the day.

Mark Walsh and Inothewayurthinkin are saluted as they enter the winner’s enclosure

The Gold Cup hero of last year takes in the crowning moment at Cheltenham

But he was disappointing in the Savills Chase that Affordale Fury won last Christmas

The big talking horse from this is Inothewayurthinkin. The way he has ran twice this season he should be 600-1, not 6-1. The Gavin Cromwell-trained eight-year-old has been beaten 52-and-three-quarter lengths in the John Durkan Chase and 41-and-a-quarter lengths in the Savills.

His form figures in the five runs in and around his Gold Cup success are: 75459. Hardly the stuff of champions.

There are two schools at thought here. One is he’s simply gone at the game and the Gold Cup victory was a fluke against an under-performing Galopin Des Champs on the day. The other is that he’s a spring horse and he’s been campaigned for one day only one again – the Gold Cup in March.

Both theories are imminently plausible. This is a yard and operation that is very tricky to work out at the best of times hence why Inothewayurthinkin is defensively priced up by bookmakers.

The Gold Cup win was a huge effort that surpassed everything else he had achieved in his career by a long way. It’s the kind of performance that can leave a mark on horses. The roll of honour for Cheltenham’s blue riband event has many terrific champions but lots were never quite the same horse since winning the big one.

A Plus Tard completely went after conquering his Everest. Coneygree won as a novice and was never the same. Don Cossack was immediately retired at the age of nine after his big day in the sun. It happens often in sport, human and equine.

His two runs this season have been deplorable. The John Durkan was a starting point over an inadequately short trip so a free pass can be allowed for that. The Savills defeat where he finished ninth out of 11 and never travelled is harder to explain.

Trainer Cromwell and Frank Berry, racing manager to owner McManus said at the time they didn’t know why Inothewayurthinkin had run so poorly. Berry said: ‘He just didn’t seem right and ran way below expectations. No clear reason why – the ground wouldn’t have been a factor, so it’s a mystery.’

Inothewayurthinkin (left) took the Cheltenham crown off Galpoin Des Champs last year

The top four jump the last in the King George VI Chase and are in the Gold Cup mix

In this week’s blog with bookmakers William Hill, Cromwell added: ‘We were very disappointed with Inothewayurthinkin in the Savills Chase. He never travelled in the race and he barely even travelled to the start.

‘The main thing is that he’s come out of it sound, we’ve done all our usual checks and we didn’t find anything wrong. We want to go to the Irish Gold Cup next.’

A mystery to all apart from the market. This was a 7-4 co-favourite when prices showed ante-post. He went out to 5-2 the night before, 4-1 on the morning of the race and drifted right out to a starting price of 13-2.

Combine that with the Grade One nature of the race and the high profile of the horse, it’s rather bewildering why the Irish stewards didn’t deem it necessary to at least speak to connections and enquire how a 176-rated horse can run so badly in a major Grade One race after such a massive drift?

Hardened racing punters are used to being stung and have to read between the lines successfully to make the game pay but this is something you’d associate with in handicap blots or ordinary novice hurdles and chases.

The Gold Cup winner is a horse that will be under intense scrutiny because he’s precisely that. He’s a horse that the general public will start to follow since that golden day and when seeing an iffy run out the back in a major Christmas Grade One after a prolonged walk in the market then it sparks alarm bells for those who follow the sport in a more recreational capacity. Even more so when questions aren’t asked by stewards.

This was a Grade One with the Gold Cup winner running way below par without an attempt at an explanation. It’s not a good look and for all the interest in the Gold Cup and the Irish equivalent, can you really have a be in good faith in either race until the market points to what Inothewayurthinkin will turn up?

Like last season, the Irish Gold Cup should reveal more but the Savills should have done that job for the Gold Cup winner. It’s difficult to have a soft campaign, not turn up all winter and fly under the radar when you are the defending champion.

Inothewayurthinkin? We don’t and that’s the problem. Good luck to anyone trying to figure this one out. Wait until Gold Cup day and see if he goes blue or red, it’ll be the only way to know for sure.

SELECTIONS OF THE DAY… 

It’s Moscow Flyer Novices’ Hurdle day at Punchestown and ROAD EXILE (7-4, Sky Bet) can take the prize in this four-runner Grade Two heat (2.20) after shaping well when beating a smart Willie Mullins-trained horse in his second start.

He could be the second leg of Gigginstown double and Gordon Elliott’s fine season can roll on, with THE ENABLER (6-1, Paddy Power) seemingly overlooked in the Sky Bet Super Sub Novice Chase (12.50).

He’s improved for fences and is underestimated in the market where all five rivals are relatively closely rated. Predators Gold is a worthy favourite but can be fragile and maybe worth taking on with Sam Ewing’s mount, who is a strong stayer.