Martin Brassil’s Fastorslow denies Galopin Des Champs again in Punchestown Gold Cup

Martin Brassil exhibited his typically-cool exterior but the Kildare-based trainer must have been beaming inside having watched his stable star rip up the script once more as he atoned for his Cheltenham Gold Cup “mishap”.

Brassil left Cheltenham that night with a sickening feeling in his stomach after jockey JJ Slevin was unseated before the business end in the blue riband but this was their redemption day.

Punchestown is the eight-year-old’s playground and he had the two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner out of his comfort zone throughout with slick jumping and a strong finishing kick putting him to the sword in a thriller.

“He’s the best horse I’ve had!” Brassil said. “JJ said he was running away with him for the first mile, he felt he had it won at every stage. He said he won on the bridle.”

Slevin hailed the brilliant winner as “an absolute monster” and it’s now 3-3 between Fastorslow and Galopin Des Champs in their epic duel, although Brassil was not thinking about what might have been at the Cotswolds.

“It was just a mishap and we just have to learn and move on from it, think of the present and don’t worry about the past,” Brassil said before plotting a route back to Cheltenham next spring.

“There’s only one Gold Cup and next year you’re going to have a few really smart novices from this year so it could be a whole different picture. As long we’re playing a part in it, it’ll be great.”

Success for Brassil was yet another recent illustration of what trainers outside of the superyards can do when they have the ammunition to fire.

“Sure it’s a good week for the small man!” the 67-year-old proclaimed. “It just shows that we’re still alive. It’s not Willie’s fault that he’s dominant, it’s just that he’s attracted so many great owners.

“It’s great that we can stumble on an odd one and take them on. We’re running out of road at our age so that makes it all the better.”

Mullins was denied his record 35th Grade One of the season in the process but he still walked away with a big-race double as the teak tough Dancing City (7/4 favourite) bagged the Grade One Novice Hurdle under Paul Townend.

“To have a horse that keeps turning up at the races, they are the ones that win races. They’re good and they’re hardy, they give their owners days out, punters can follow them,” Mullins said.

“Like any athlete, those that are able to take the knocks and the bumps and still appear out the next day, he’s the type of horse we’re always looking for.”

The Closutton maestro is already planning a novice chasing campaign for the six-year-old next season while Redemption Day (9/2) is expected to finally make his hurdling debut next term after an extended bumper career.

Second in the Champion Bumper here in 2022, the seven-year-old went one better this time around in what was a red-letter day for Jody Townend with her maiden Grade One triumph. It also continued what has been a whirlwind few days for Mullins as he continues to bask in the glory of a first British jumps trainers’ championship with a special memento from legendary English trainer Peter Easterby proudly tucked away in his breast pocket.

“We were just looking at the trophy last night and all the names and Peter Easterby was on it. His daughter came up to me and delivered a letter from Peter congratulating me, I didn’t read it yet.

“It just shows you. That’s the sort of camaraderie I’m getting from a lot of the English trainers, some of them were delighted and it was a unique thing to do. One or two of them might have been upset, though,” Mullins said with a smile.

​Henry de Bromhead twice hit the bar in Grade Ones on the opening day but the Waterford trainer was basking in a double at the Kildare track as his well-supported pair left many of the 21,652 spectators in clover.

Gorgeous Tom (4/1) was a double-digit price earlier in the day but the money came for Darragh O’Keeffe’s mount and he justified stable confidence to bag the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle.

Similarly, Let’s Go Champ (11/4 favourite) was a welcome winner for Rachael Blackmore, as well as her legion of fans, after twice being edged out on the opening day and she was delighted to leave a “frustrating” day well behind in the rearview mirror.

Champion conditional Danny Gilligan also got on the score sheet to continue his outstanding season when he struck aboard the Joseph O’Brien-trained Harsh (17/2) in the opening handicap hurdle.

Backtonormal (7/1) had form behind Blizzard Of Oz (13/8 favourite) and Answer To Kayf (11/4) and Gavin Cromwell’s new recruit got his revenge on both when delivering in the Auction Hurdle Series Final under Seán Flanagan.

There was drama galore in the Grade Three Mares Bumper as Familiar Dreams (4/1) drifted across the home straight but Anthony McCann’s five-year-old still got her head in front for Áine O’Connor.