J J Slevin’s William Hill blog: Fastorslow is hopefully a live contender for the Gold Cup

Dublin Racing Festival

It was a very good run from Fastorslow In the Irish Gold Cup. I think he ran to form and lost very little in defeat. Galopin Des Champs is a very good horse and we were looking to give him a bit of a race. We are now looking forward to Cheltenham as he is hopefully a live contender for the Gold Cup. He did a lot of things right and I’m looking forward to the next day with him now. I’m confident he is up to the challenge in the Gold Cup as he is a very good horse. We will enjoy the journey to the build up to the race and hopefully enjoy a bit of luck when we get there. I think it is good for the game to have two horses like Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow having that bit of a rivalry as it creates a bit of interest. Hopefully they will give everyone a great race and hopefully we can come out on the right side of the result. We’ve still got to figure out what we have to do to get the better of him at Cheltenham but that is something we will map out closer to the time. It is the Gold Cup at the end of the day and we will go there and hope for the best.

Brucio was a nice winner to get and I was lucky to come in for the spin as Daryl [Jacob] couldn’t do the 10st 2lbs. She is a mare that is improving and it was nice to get one for Stuart Crawford as he has been a good supporter of mine for a number of years.

It was a big jump up in class from her win at Catterick a few weeks before but she is going in the right direction. I think she will go for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival now. She is well worth looking at the race with.

Solness is a very good honest handicapper and ran well off a big weight the other day and a bit of drier ground at Cheltenham would be no harm to him. We are looking forward to the spring festivals with him for his owners Bronsan Racing. They have given me plenty of spins on him and it would be nice for those boys to run him at Cheltenham and it would be great if he won there as they would get a real kick out of it.

Naas, Saturday

Lark In The Mornin (1.20pm)

His form has been good since we switched him from the Flat. His three runs have been nice enough in maiden hurdles and this looks a good opportunity for him to get his head in front. Initially we thought he was going to be a proper top class horse and he probably hasn’t lived up to expectations yet so has been a little bit frustrating. Hopefully he can get it here as if he can get a win under his belt that might just give him a bit of confidence going forward. I won this race on Band Of Outlaws a few years ago before winning the Booldles on him and the lad that won the Boodles last year (Jazzy Matty) was fourth in this race beforehand. He is only rated 118 so he would probably need to win this to get in to the Boodles, however if he does win I’m sure it will be on the agenda.

Backtonormal (1.55pm)

I’m riding Backtonormal for Mags Mullins in the auction novice hurdle. He was second in a maiden hurdle at Gowran Park last time having won a bumper on his final start last season. I think he probably has a nice enough chance here at getting a first win over hurdles.

Navan, Sunday

Karacole, (1.45pm)

She ran a nice enough race at Punchestown two starts ago when she finished fourth. I think Jimmy (Barcoe, trainer) is quite happy with her quietly. We are hoping for a place again with her. She did outrun her odds when she was fourth the time before last and she had a lot more behind her than in front of her and she was galloping away. That was an okay run at a big price and I think she could be a nice each-way bet.

Da Capo Glory (2.45pm)

He is a decent horse, but it is quite a good race. He is the kind of horse that is on the upgrade and I’m delighted to get the ride on him. Hopefully he can run a nice race.

If he continues on his upward curve he should have a decent chance and I’m looking forward to him. I’ve never ridden him in a race before but I’ve watched him a few times and I think this is the sort of trip he wants. He is only seven, and if he can take another step forward he should be in the money as some of them are having their first run of the season while others will be using it as a prep for races later on in the season.

Padraigs Boy (3.15pm)

I actually rode him on his first run back this season when he was brought down at the first. The last day he was upsides at the last and he fell. It is just unfortunate what has happened in his last two starts and he deserves a change of luck. He likes soft ground and he should have a little chance hopefully.