'He's A1, I couldn't be any happier with him' - Brassil beaming about Fastorslow despite being a King George absentee

Any fears that Fastorslow may have suffered a setback after his name was a glaring omission from the 24 entries for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase this week are well wide of the mark.

Trainer Martin Brassil is thrilled with the wellbeing of the horse who has beaten double Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs three times. 

He said: "I've been delighted with him, couldn't be happier. We have him back in a good while now. He's a slow-burner. You can't just rush the work back into him, you have to take your time. He's A1 and  in great shape. We're looking forward to getting him started back."

Fastorslow was vying for favouritism for the Christmas showpiece before the entries were released on Tuesday. Brassil had said the race was very much on his radar earlier in the autumn, but it now seems he will stay at home over the festive period. 

A route back to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in which he unseated JJ Slevin six out last season when still travelling strongly, has not been fully mapped out yet by Brassil but Fastorslow will definitely return to action in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown on November 24, a race he won last year at 9-1. 

Fastorslow: set to try and retain John Durkan crownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Of Fastorslow's omission from the King George entries, Brassil said: "He's had no setback. I'm here looking at him in front of me after he did a piece of work this morning and he looks great. We're going to make a decision on where we'll go with him after the John Durkan. 

"There are lots of big options for him and we'll get the John Durkan out of the way first before we make any further plans for him. We can still supplement him for the King George if we want to, but there are plenty of other races for him as well.

"If it all goes well in the John Durkan and he recovers fine from that, he will run somewhere at Christmas. There's a month between the John Durkan and Christmas, although ideally you would like a week longer to recover from those Grade 1s. It's a nice break then from Christmas to the Gold Cup, if you skip the Irish Gold Cup in February."

Fastorslow is generally 7-1 third favourite for the 2025 Gold Cup, with only the Willie Mullins-trained pair Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File shorter than him in the market. 

Since going chasing, Galopin Des Champs has been beaten only three times in 13 outings when he has stood up, and all three of those have been by Fastorslow, who has become his arch nemesis. The pair will renew rivalry at Punchestown later this month in what is shaping up to be a red-hot running of the John Durkan. 

Cheltenham Gold Cup, Friday March 14 2025
Paddy Power: 7-2 Galopin Des Champs, 4 Fact To File, 7 Fastorslow, 10 Inothewayurthinkin, 14 Grey Dawning, 16 Spillane's Tower, Gerri Colombe, 20 bar.

Read these next:

Bryony Frost back in Britain for ride in Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on Friday - while Grade 1 winner set to make chasing debut on undercard 

'He gives me an unbelievable feel' - Jack Kennedy keen on American Mike for upcoming Troytown Chase  

Jeriko Du Reponet, Marine Nationale and more: when and where some exciting jumps stars could return this week 

Top jockeys such as Harry Skelton can't do their jobs without it – and you can subscribe to Racing Post Members' Club Ultimate Monthly and get 50% off your first three months! Available to new subscribers purchasing Members' Club Ultimate Monthly using code MEMBERS24. First three payments will be charged at £24.98, subscription renews at full monthly price thereafter. To cancel please contact us at least seven days before subscription is due to renew.