JJ Slevin praises 'absolute monster' Fastorslow as he defeats Galopin Des Champs again in Punchestown Gold Cup

A race billed as the latest chapter in one of jump racing's most compelling rivalries didn't disappoint as Fastorslow put Galopin Des Champs firmly in his place with another superlative performance on his happiest of hunting grounds at Punchestown.

In truth, this was a rip-roaring spectacle of a staying chase. Seven horses crossed the second last fence with some sort of a chance, but in the end it came down to a skirmish between the two heavyweight protagonists. 

As was the case a year earlier, Fastorslow was the one who landed the knockout blow. The score between them is now three wins apiece and they are certainly evenly matched, for all that we're left wondering what might have happened when they crossed swords in the Cotswolds in March. 

Martin Brassil's stable star and JJ Slevin parted company in fairly inexplicable circumstances in what was supposed to be the definitive showdown in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This might not have atoned for that, but it was pretty sweet consolation all the same.

"I try not to think too much about it," Slevin said when asked if he ponders what might have been. 

"He jumped the fence at Cheltenham and his head disappeared, and the next thing I was getting up off the ground. That was it. It was one of those things and there are people in worse situations."

Fastorslow wins from Galopin Des Champs (right) and Hewick (centre)Credit: Patrick McCann

This was certainly more like it. Having secured a second successive Gold Cup in March, Galopin Des Champs was again sent off at odds-on to avenge his shock 2023 submission to Fastorslow. 

Just as had been the case then, though, he simply couldn't live with Slevin's mount, a horse who has emerged as a proper old-fashioned nemesis to the one who would be king.

Again, maybe Willie Mullins' stable star paid for his Cheltenham exertions, but three times now Brassil has worked the oracle with Fastorslow at Punchestown, also orchestrating Galopin Des Champs' downfall in the John Durkan Memorial Chase in November.

When they touched gloves in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February, there was a sense that having skipped Christmas, Brassil had left something on Fastorslow ahead of March.

Come the day, the mishap meant we didn't find out if this smashing eight-year-old could serve it up to Galopin Des Champs. 

This time, there was no such blip. Fastorslow followed the front-running Conflated and Paul Townend sat in his slipstream on the favourite.

At all times, it was Slevin who looked happier. Bar the Gold Cup incident, he has enjoyed a fantastic season, winning the Irish Grand National on Intense Raffles and taking the Champion Chase here on Tuesday on Banbridge. This redemptive triumph crowned his campaign. 

"This is special. To have a horse as good as him is hard to believe," he said. "He's an absolute monster and by far the best horse I've ridden."

Brassil was even more minded not to dwell on the Cheltenham setback. There are few more understated or dignified men in the game, and he wasn't going to cry over spilt milk. 

"I only live in the present," he said when asked about it. 

When Conflated, who jumped left out in front, cried enough from three out, Slevin let Fastorslow go on, but he didn't overcommit. Townend was struggling to get Galopin Des Champs to go with him and Conflated, Hewick, Appreciate It, Journey With Me and Gentlemansgame were all on the premises as they took two out. 

Thereafter, Fastorslow stamped his authority on proceedings. He wasn't as clean at the final fence as he had been throughout but he landed running and readily consigned Galopin Des Champs to the runner-up berth by a length and a quarter, with Hewick keeping on for third. He is just the second horse in the 25-year history of the race in its current guise to win it twice following Neptune Collonges in 2007 and 2008.

"He turned up here in as good a shape as last year, possibly a bit better maybe, and he delivered what we were hoping," Brassil said of the 7-2 shot. 

Martin Brassil: "He delivered what we were hoping"Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"We said we'd ride him a bit differently rather than doing the same thing and keep getting beaten, so let him use his pace and not keep taking him back if he was making ground at fences. He loved the better ground too. JJ said he won on the bridle – he is the best horse I have had anyway."

Townend wasn't looking for excuses. As had been the case on the two previous occasions Galopin Des Champs fell short against Fastorslow, he never threw in the towel.

"He kept going again and he was right there at the death; it's just so hard to come back from Cheltenham to here," he said. "I actually think he ran well.

"The ground drying out didn't help him and it's Fastorslow's track here. Maybe he just lacked a little bit of zip in the race when I needed it, but he has run with credit and fair play to the winner and his connections."

Mullins was similarly phlegmatic. Only three horses have completed the Cheltenham and Punchestown Gold Cup double, so there is no denying it takes a bit of doing. 

"I'm happy with what happened and the better horse on the day won the race," Mullins said. "Our fellow ran a great race and was staying on at the end. More power to Fastorslow. It's great for Sean and Bernardine Mulryan and Martin Brassil."

It's also great for those of us ringside. A race to savour. 

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