Fastorslow Beats Galopin Des Champs Again for Second Punchestown Gold Cup Victory

The stable star of Martin Brassil unseated Slevin at the 16th fence of March’s Gold Cup before Galopin Des Champs secured his second successive victory in the Cheltenham Festival highlight. However, back at the scene of his Grade 1 success in November’s John Durkan Memorial Chase, Fastorslow beat Galopin Des Champs for a third time at Punchestown. King George winner Hewick, back on his favored quicker ground after missing Cheltenham due to the testing ground, finished third under Jordan Gainford. Fastorslow was runner-up in the 2022 Coral Cup and last year’s Ultima and was cut to 7-1 (from 20) with Betfair to land a first Cheltenham Festival success in next year’s Gold Cup.

Slevin won Punchestown’s feature Grade 1 for the second day in a row after scoring on Banbridge in Tuesday’s Champion Chase. Brassil, who won the 2006 Grand National with Numbersixvalverde, expressed pride in Fastorslow’s performance, stating “He’s probably the best horse I’ve had. He’s very consistent. It’s a good week for the small man, we’re still alive.”

Galopin Des Champs beat Fastorslow at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival, but after that February form was reversed, the 1-2 shot’s trainer Willie Mullins said: “Fastorslow is always good at this time of year around this track, JJ gave him a very brave ride. “He didn’t wait around for our fella or anything like that. He went out and took the race by the scruff of the neck and it worked for him.” Reference: Racing Post