Punchestown 2024: Fastorslow can deliver another knockout blow to Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs on second day of Festival

One of jump racing’s great current rivalries will write its latest chapter in today’s feature €300,000 Grade 1 Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup.

The star of the show and undisputed heavyweight champion Galopin Des Champs will meet his arch nemesis Fastorslow for a sixth time this evening.

The score is currently 3-2 in the two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner’s favour but back at Punchestown there’s enough evidence to suggest that FASTORSLOW (5.25) can deliver another knockout blow to Willie Mullins’ superstar gelding.

The WIllie Mullins-trained eight-year-old produced a spectacular performance to capture a second Gold Cup seven weeks ago in a contest where Fastorslow unseated his jockey JJ Slevin before the race had got serious.

But today at Punchestown, the Martin Brassil-trained underdog will get his chance to repeat his shock 20-1 success over his old foe in this race 12 months ago.

He proved that there was no fluke about that win back here in November for the John Durkan and although Galopin and Paul Townend struck back at the Dublin Racing Festival, there’s hope for Brassil and Slevin that this track brings out the best in his son of Saint des Saints.

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That early exit at Cheltenham was bitterly disappointing but it does mean he arrives here without the hard race that Mullins’ ace endured even though he did eventually end up chasing him home loose.

Better ground will also suit and it promises to be a magnificent contest, with 2023 Grand National winner Corach Rambler and Shark Hanlon’s cult hero Hewick also lining up in the nine runner field.

Danny Gilligan can put the crown on what’s been a memorable season by landing another major Festival success at Punchestown this afternoon.

Teenage star Gilligan’s winning run started with a Galway Plate victory last summer and since then he’s won the Troytown Chase and tasted success at both the Dublin Racing Festival and most memorably in a Grade 1 at Cheltenham.

The Craughwell native and son of trainer Paul Gilligan is very much tipped for the top and his 5lbs claim is something of a prized asset for trainers’ queueing up to use him.

Boss Gordon Elliott has first call but in today’s €75,000 Connolly's RED MILLS Auction Hurdle Series Final he has a massive chance on BLACK BAMBOO (3.05).

The seven-year-old son of Fame And Glory finished an excellent sixth in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham and in a handicap hurdle at AIntree on Grand National day.

He arrives here 5lbs lower than his English mark and with Gilligan’s claim added, he competes off a 10lbs more lenient mark.

Bizarrely he was also sixth in the big field contest at the Dublin Racing Festival but today could he his day to get his head in front for Cork-based trainer John Murphy.

The better ground is sure to bring some improvement and with some luck in running for Gilligan he looks a major player in a wide open race.

FINAL ORDERS (2.30) looks another very well-handicapped horse with an excellent young conditional booked in the opening Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle FInal.

He’s 24lbs lower than his chase mark and despite his form this season being scratchy, he did run well for long periods on his last outing at Cheltenham two weeks ago.

The better the ground the better his chances and Gavin Cromwell is always a man to be feared and respected at these big spring festivals.

That Cheltenham run was his first since November and should leave him cherry ripe for this assignment in a race where several have chances, with Paul Nolan’s Park Of Kings high on the list of contenders.

The opening Grade 1 of the afternoon is the €125,000 Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle and it’s a fascinating race with Gordon Elliott’s Cheltenham Festival winning pair of Stellar Story and Better Days Ahead taking on Willie Mullins’ Aintree winner Dancing City.

It’s very difficult to call but the step up to 3m really seemed to bring out the best in STELLAR STORY (4.15) and he gets the narrow vote.

Sam Ewing celebrates winning the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle on board Stellar Story at Cheltenham
(Image: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

He took the scalp of Dancing City in that Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham and although Punchestown is not as demanding a track as Cheltenham, this race is sure to be run at a fierce gallop.

The Grade 1 Champion Bumper is a fantastic race where the Cheltenham first and second also renew rivalry in another Mullins v Elliott battle.

Jasmin De Vaux will go down in history as the horse that secured Willie Mullins his 100th Cheltenham winner when winning in March under his son Patrick but the tables might be turned this evening with preference for that race’s runner-up ROMEO COOLIO (4.50).

A 3m point winner, he had long been thought of as his trainer's best bumper horse, yet didn't make his debut until January, winning in workmanlike fashion at Fairyhouse.

He had clearly come on plenty at Cheltenham though, and despite being weak in the betting, travelled smoothly throughout the race.

He found the Mullins horse too good on the day but around Punchestown and on better ground there might be more improvement in him.

One feature of Punchestown this week is the amount of British runners and in the 2m4f Handicap Chase it may pay to side with the Warren Greatrex-trained BILL BAXTER (6.00).

He won last year’s Topham at Aintree and was fancied again this year until crashing out early on in the race. He’s 2lbs lower here and looks well handicapped.

Jody Townend will be crowned champion amateur lady rider here on Saturday and can add the closing mares’ bumper to her impressie seasonal tally.

FLEUR AU FUSIL (6.30) won at the Dublin Racing Festival and ran well for a long period in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham against the geldings.

She is back amongst her own sex here and could be dangerous to dismiss despite the fact that Patrick Mullins has sided with Aurora Vega.