Horse Racing

How Many Cheltenham Gold Cup Winners Have Won The Grand National?

Andy Newton Sports Editor

Published17 Mar 2025

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The JP McManus-trained INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN lowered the colours of two-time Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival and could bid for a famous double at Aintree. But just how many Cheltenham Gold winners have won the Grand National?

Golden Miller Is The Only Horse To Win The Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National In The Same Season

Inothewayurthinkin holds an entry for the Aintree Grand National on Saturday 5th April and if taking in the race after his Cheltenham Gold Cup win will be looking to become only the second horse ever to win both of these iconic jumps races in the same season.

GOLDEN MILLER, who mopped up a remarkable FIVE Cheltenham Gold Cups between 1932 and 1936, also added the Aintree Grand National to his CV in 1934.

He was aged 7 at the time of his 1934 Grand National win.

Which is the same age as Inothewayurthinkin will be if the Gavin Cromwell-trained Gold Cup winner lines-up in 2025.

Golden Miller also carried a big weight (12st 2lbs), which was 12lbs more than Inothewayurthinkin (11st 4lbs) has been allocated by the handicapper.

When winning his 1934 Grand National, Golden Miller was ridden by Gerry Wilson, trained by Basil Briscoe and owned by Dorothy Paget. His odds at the time with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK were 8/1

Unfortunately, Golden Miller’s Grand National title defence ended when he fell the previous year in 1935.

While, his 1934 National win was his only success in the race.

However, he went onto land another Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1936 at the age of 9. Which took his overall tally in the race to five and the most any horse has won.

Two-Time Gold Cup Winner L’Escargot Went Onto Win The Grand National Later In His Career

So Golden Miller is the only horse to date to have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Aintree Grand National in the same season.

However, the 1970 and 71 Gold Cup hero L’Escargot, who had some famous battles with Red Rum over the years, did manage to win the National too in 1975 at the grand old age of 12.

Garrison Savannah Came Close To Doing The Gold Cup / Grand National Double In 1991

Since then, the Jenny Pitman-trained Garrison Savannah almost ed Golden Miller as a Gold Cup and Grand National winner in the same season.

In 1991, he landed the Gold Cup. Beating the French raider The Fellow by a head.

However, despite looking to have the 91 Grand National in the bag after jumping the last – was caught in dramatic fashion by Seagram around the elbow.

The race was run over 4m 4f back then, but had it been at today’s trip of 4m 2 1/2f, then Garrison Savannah would have surely won.

Garrison Savannah went onto run three more Grand Nationals without success.

Who Were The Last Cheltenham Gold Cup Winners To Run In The Grand National?

Master Oats – Won the 1995 Gold Cup, but was only 7th in the Grand National that season behind Royal Athlete. He also went onto run 5th in the 1997 National, which was won by Lord Gyllene.
Synchronised – Prior to Inothewayurthinkin, this horse was the last Gold Cup winner for owner JP McManus in 2012. But his Grand National bid the same season ended in tragedy when we was fatally injured.
Lord Windermere – Won the 2014 Gold Cup. Later ran in the Grand Nationals in 2015 (PU), 2017 (7th) and 2018 (UR). But he actually never won a race after winning his 2014 Gold Cup (12 runs).
Long Run – The 2011 Gold Cup winner and 2012 third also ran in the Grand National later in this career – when falling in the 2014 renewal.

2025 Grand National Weights Set In Stone, With Inothewayurthinkin Set To Carry 11st 5lbs

It’s not 100% certain that the 2025 Inothewayurthinkin will take his chance in the Grand National on Saturday April 5th.

But if he does, the handicapper can’t change his Grand National weight of 11st 5lbs.

These weights are set in stone now after being announced back in February. However, having slammed the two-time Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs by 6 lengths if the handicapper could reassess him he’d be top-weight. as he’s rated 175 now.

Inotherwayurthinkin Would Be 15lbs Well-In Based On His New Rating

Meaning he’d be 15lbs well-in if running in the 2025 Grand National.

Galopin Des Champs was rated 177 for the Gold Cup and Inothewayurthinkin rated 160. With many rating the win the best Gold Cup performance in the last decade.

If Inothewayurthinkin does take his chance in the Grand National, he’ll be looking to give owner JP McManus his fourth success in the race.

He’s won it in the past with Don’t Push It (2010) and Minella Times (2021). Plus, last year with I Am Maximus (2024).

I Am Maximus won carrying 11st 6lbs, which was a pound more than Inothewayurthinkin has.

While the two-time National winner Tiger Roll won with 11st 5lbs back in 2019.

However, owner JP McManus might have second thoughts about running his Gold Cup winner.

This is becuase his last Cheltenham hero to run in the race – Synchronised – was sadly fatally injured in the race after falling at the 6th. But got up and carried on riderless when sustaining an serious fracture at the 11th fence.

Aintree Grand National 2025 Race Details

📅Date: Saturday 5th April 2025
⌚Time: 4:00pm
🏇Racecourse: Aintree
🔄Trip: 4m 2 1/2f
💷Winner: £500,000
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV