News & Media

Fastorslow retains Punchestown Gold Cup in style

JJ Slevin's mount bounced back from Cheltenham disappointment to turn the tables on Galopin Des Champs

Wednesday, 01 May 2024
Fastorslow retains Punchestown Gold Cup in style

JJ Slevin celebrates his successful Punchestown Gold Cup defence on Fastorslow

Cheltenham was quite a low point and to come back here and win is unbelievable - JJ Slevin

Martin Brassil hailed Fastorslow 'probably my best ever hose' after he retained his Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup in stunning fashion from Galopin Des Champs, writes Ben Hart.

In his first race since unseating rider JJ Slevin in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Brassil's stable star came home one and a quarter lengths clear of the 1/2 favourite, with King George winner Hewick a further two and a quarter lengths behind in third.

The eight-year-old never looked flustered on his return to his beloved Punchestown, securing a third career win over the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.

“Cheltenham was quite a low point and to come back here and win is unbelievable,” Slevin told Racing TV.

“We didn’t set out with any great plan, we were going to see what happened and I just wanted to see how the cards fell. He was quite keen for the first mile, I was worried he was doing a bit too much but he jumped really well on the whole.

“It was a massive performance and he won quite easily. He’s a fantastic horse.

“To go to a Gold Cup and something like that happen is a shocker but it’s a horse race at the end of the day and you have to get up, move on and go again. That was a monster of an effort.”

Trainer Brassil added: “We’re very proud of the horse and how he performed, a little bit different to tactics before but we were trying to make sure it was a true level pace all the way.

“He’s probably the best horse I’ve had. It’s a good week for the small man.”

Earlier on day two of the Festival, Redemption Day came from last to first to give rider Jody Townend a first Grade One win in the Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race.

Trained by Willie Mullins, Redemption Day finished second in this contest two years ago and is now from two from two after a 611-day absence.

“It was unbelievable,” Townend told Racing TV. “He’s got some engine and I’m delighted for Tim (O’Driscoll, owner), to come back and go one better is brilliant.

“The hood seems to have worked on him. I’ve just been dropping him out and using his turn of foot and it’s working, he goes completely to sleep and you’re wondering what you have underneath you.”

On riding her first Grade One winner, she added: “I can’t believe it to be honest, it is unreal!”

Mullins also struck in the first Grade 1 of the day as Dancing City furthered his growing reputation with victory in the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle, with Jody's brother Paul on board.

Already a top-flight winner at Dublin Racing Festival and Aintree as well a third at Cheltenham, he is already shaping up to be a chaser to follow next season.

“It shows how tough he is because he’d been to every cockfight and it takes a lot of doing,” Mullins told Racing TV.

“It augurs well for the future going over fences. He did well coming back from Aintree, we haven’t done Cheltenham-Aintree-Punchestown before but it looks achievable so we might do more of it in the future.

“He didn’t show how good he was until we went to three miles.”

Henry de Bromhead completed the second leg of a day two double when claiming the Grade 3 HSS Hire Handicap Chase, as Lets Go Champ justified favouritism for his first Graded win.

Stablemate Gorgeous Tom had earlier edged favourite Mistergif in a thrilling Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle in the hands of Darragh O’Keeffe.

Aine O’Connor and Anthony McCann took the spoils in the Weatherbys General Stud Book Irish EBF Mares Flat Race (Grade 3) as Familiar Dreams made it four from four for 2024.

Backtonormal won on his first start for Gavin Cromwell in the Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final, while champion conditional elect Danny Gilligan roared home on Harsh in the Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle for the latest milestone in an extraordinary season.

Day three begins at the slightly later time of 3.40pm with two Grade 1s on the card, including an all-star cast led by Teahupoo in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at 6.00pm.



Back to News List