Punchestown demonstrates Fastorslow’s dominance, but Galopin Des Champs remains the top Gold Cup contender.

What if the horse hadn’t been loose galloping up the Cheltenham hill with no rider, but still had his rider on his back? It’s purely hypothetical. Life isn’t solely about Cheltenham.

Punchestown is also significant, and Fastorslow delivered a flawless performance to defeat the best jumps horse in training for the third time in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup. While everything seemed effortless at Cheltenham, it was an uphill battle at Punchestown. Fastorslow appeared uneasy and did not jump with the usual precision.

He seemed sticky and sluggish, yet he fought bravely, as the best ones always do, but he never seemed likely to overtake his opponent.