Galopin Des Champs primed to settle score with Fastorslow at Punchestown

It’s all happening very quickly now and as former top jump jockey and IHRB clerk Brendan Sheridan reminded me at Fairyhouse on Friday, it would want to.

Christmas is around the corner, the big spring festivals are only a few months away. And then it’ll be all about the Flat again!

He was joking, of course, sort of, but there is a lot to look forward to on day two of Punchestown’s Winter Festival today, leading into the two-day Fairyhouse Winter Festival next weekend with its host of Grade Ones.

While Gordon Elliott tends to get going earlier, this is the time of the year Willie Mullins starts to hum. He has won the Grade One John Durkan Memorial Chase nine times, Florida Pearl claiming the first in 2001 and the other eight coming since Arvika Ligeonniere scored in 2013.

He has five of the six runners as he pursues a six-in-a-row. Stattler will be stepping up later in the year while Blue Lord, Appreciate It and Asterion Forlonge are talented performers with a little bit to prove.

That can’t be said about the defending champion, and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Galopin Des Champs and he will be expected to deliver at prohibitive odds, even though Fastorslow, who beat him the last time they raced in the Punchestown Gold Cup, also pitches up.

​While there is a sense that Willie Mullins’ charge might have been a bit below par last April, Fastorslow had run at Cheltenham too and while it was a handicap rather than the pre-eminent chase on the planet, he only just lost out on a gruelling duel with Corach Rambler in the Ultima.

Lucinda Russell’s charge went on to absolutely hose up in the Grand National, so that was a proper performance.

He was given a brilliant ride by JJ Slevin back at Punchestown, letting Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame dictate, only taking it up after the last obstacle.

Fastorslow has improved for stepping up to three miles, while Galopin Des Champs has no shortage of speed, and had a specialist at the intermediate distance, Fakir D’oudairies 13 lengths back in this race last year. It would be a big shock if he did not win but don’t be surprised to see Fastorslow improve as the season unfolds towards March and beyond.

The Grade Two BetVictor Craddockstown Novice Chase should go to another odds-on shot. Imagine represents the burgeoning Caldwell Construction team.

Racing manager Joey Logan is invariably drawn towards more chasing types when going into the market for Andy and Gemma Brown and Imagine looks a far better horse already over the bigger obstacles, even though he wasn’t a bad hurdler.

He is trained by Gordon Elliott and he and Jack Kennedy have the favourite for the Listed Frontline Security Grabel Mares’ Hurdle in Shecouldbeanything but I love Broomfield Bijou, ridden by Donagh Meyler for Philip Dempsey.

The five-year-old daughter of Walk In The Park ran nicely to be second in a novice hurdle at Listowel’s Harvest Festival in September, finishing three lengths behind the race-fit The Wallpark.

It was Broomfield Bijou’s first run since just getting up to win a handicap at this venue at the festival. She had been a facile winner of a maiden at Ballinrobe before that, after being an unlucky loser at Navan. What’s more, she seems to be ground versatile and looks a lovely price at around 6/1 against the jolly.

​Elsewhere, Mullins takes the wraps off Tullyhill in the 2m6f INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle. Owned by Cheveley Park, the five-year-old was last seen going eyeball to eyeball with A Dream To Share in the Punchestown Champion Bumper.

The confidence about him was notable beforehand, given he was taking on the unbeaten Cheltenham winner and while the John Kiely gelding eventually pulled clear to win by three and three-quarter lengths under John Gleeson, his reputation was certainly enhanced.

The card ends with the Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle Qualifier. Martin Brassil runs Longhouse Poet, whose year will be about a third tilt at the Aintree Grand National, having just run out of gas two years ago and last term when going well.

The Shunter was last seen beating Pied Piper in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and it will be interesting to see what Emmet Mullins has in store for the ten-year-old now.

And Stuzzikini, representing Elliott, bolted up in a handicap at Clonmel just a fortnight ago. He had been running very consistently without getting his nose in front and now that he has, may be the one to follow here.