Gavin Cromwell (born 29 September 1974) is an Irish dual-purpose racehorse trainer. He has won multiple Grade 1 races, including the 2025

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlon ...

Background

Cromwell comes from Ardcath,

County Meath County Meath ( ; or simply , ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. It is bordered by County Dublin to the southeast, County ...

, where his grandfather and uncle trained horses. Originally hoping to become a jockey, Cromwell worked in yards in Ireland, Newmarket and Australia, before returning to Ireland to start a four-year

farrier A farrier is a specialist in equine hoof care, including the trimming and balancing of horses' hooves and the placing of shoes on their hooves, if necessary. A farrier combines some blacksmith's skills (fabricating, adapting, and adju ...

apprenticeship. He took out a trainer's licence in 2005, while continuing to work as a farrier until he became established.

Career as a trainer

Cromwell sent out his first winner from his Danestown yard in April 2007, when Dodder Walk won a handicap

hurdle A hurdle (UK English, limited US English) is a moveable section of light fence. In the United States, terms such as "panel", "pipe panel" or simply "fence section" are used to describe moveable sections of fencing intended for agricultural u ...

Cork "Cork" or "CORK" may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Stopper (plug), or "cork", a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container *** Wine cork an item to seal or reseal wine Places Ireland * ...

. He achieved his first Grade 1 success when Jer's Girl won the

Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final The Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to mares aged four years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse Racecourse over a distance of about 2 miles and ...

Fairyhouse Fairyhouse Racecourse is a horse racing venue in Ireland. It is situated in the parish of Ratoath in County Meath, on the R155 regional road, off the N3. It hosted its first race in 1848 and since 1870 has been the home of the Irish Grand ...

in March 2016. His first success at the

Cheltenham Festival The Cheltenham Festival is a horse racing-based meeting in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, with race prize money second only to the Grand National. The four-day festival takes place annually in March at Cheltenham Race ...

came in 2019, when Espoir d'Allen won the

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years ...

. When

Inothewayurthinkin Inothewayurthinkin (born 4 April 2018) is an Irish-bred, Irish-trained thoroughbred racehorse. A steeplechaser, he is best known for winning the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Inothewayurthinkin is owned by J. P. McManus, and bred by his wife, Nore ...

, owned by

J. P. McManus John Patrick McManus (born 10 March 1951) is an Irish businessman and racehorse owner. He was a major shareholder of Manchester United until his stake was bought out by Malcolm Glazer in 2005. Early life McManus was born in Limerick, Ireland, ...

and ridden by Mark Walsh, won the

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlon ...

in 2025, it was the trainer's eighth victory at the Festival. Although better known as a

National Hunt National Hunt Racing, also known as Jump Racing, is a form of horse racing particular to many European countries, including, but not limited to: France, Great Britain and Ireland. Jump Racing requires horses to jump over fences and ditches. In ...

trainer, Cromwell also trains horses to run on the flat and is one of the few trainers to have had winners at both the Cheltenham Festival and

Royal Ascot Ascot Racecourse is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, about 25 miles west of London. Ascot is used for thoroughbred horse racing, and it hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 races and three Gra ...

, where his first winner was Quick Suzy in the Grade 2

Queen Mary Stakes The Queen Mary Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres), and it is scheduled to take place ...

Personal life

Cromwell is married to Kiva, with whom he has three children.

Cheltenham Festival winners (8)

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlon ...

- (1)

(2025) *

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years ...

- (1) Espoir d'Allen (2019) *

Stayers' Hurdle The Stayers' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain. It is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 m ...

- (2) Flooring Porter (2021, 2022) * Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - (1) Vanillier (2021) * Liberthine Mares' Chase - (1) Limerick Lace (2024) *

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup is a National Hunt steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase in Great Britain for amateur riders; it is open to horses aged five years or older. The chase i ...

- (1)

(2024) *

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is a National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Cross-Country Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 m ...

- (1) Stumptown (2025)

Other major wins

Ireland *

- (1) Jer's Girl (2016) *

Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle The Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs ( ...

- (1) Jer's Girl (2016) *

Christmas Hurdle The Christmas Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 m ...

- (1) Flooring Porter (2020) *

Spring Juvenile Hurdle The Spring Juvenile Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland. It is run at Leopardstown Racecourse in February, over a distance of 2 miles. The race is restricted to four-year-old horses on ...

- (1) Hello Neighbour (2025) Great Britain *

Mildmay Novices' Chase The Mildmay Novices' Chase is a Grade One National Hunt racing, National Hunt Steeplechase (horse racing), chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the ...

- (1)

(2024)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cromwell, Gavin 1974 births Irish racehorse trainers Equestrians from County Meath Living people