JJ Slevin hoping to be back from injury in time to ride Fastorslow in John Durkan

JJ Slevin hopes to recover from a broken bone in his foot in time to ride Fastorslow in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown on November 24, when he will attempt to beat dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs for a fourth time.

Fastorslow's name was a surprise omission from the 24 entries for the Ladbrokes King George Chase at Kempton revealed earlier this week, and Slevin is not entirely sure why he wasn't among them, but he has ultimate faith in trainer Martin Brassil to get his campaign spot on and feels that travelling twice to Britain in the space of a few months may have been the reason behind it.

Writing in his William Hill blog, Slevin said:  "Fastorslow wasn’t entered in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day and I’m not too sure what the thinking behind that was. It might be that they just want to keep him at home and not travelling him both at Christmas, and a few months later.

"However, Martin Brassil doesn’t usually put a foot wrong in that department and, whatever his thinking behind it is, you are likely to find come the springtime that it was the right decision."

He added: "I’m looking forward to him coming back in the John Durkan. You would be hoping he will improve for his return, but you need to have them fairly ready going to the well the first day in a race like that. He will just have him boiling over just to start off that day and then build for the rest of the season."

Fastorslow: defeated Galopin Des Champs in last season's Punchestown Gold CupCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Explaining the injury which has kept him on the sidelines in recent weeks, Slevin said: "I’ve been out for five weeks now with injury as I broke a bone in my foot. It’s called the cuboid bone, which is right in the middle of my foot, but I’m on the way back now.

"On Monday, I’m getting it x-rayed again and if that goes well, I can really kick on. I hope to be back riding on November 24 as that’s when Fastorslow will be making his seasonal return.

"I’ve been out watching the horses at Joseph O’Brien’s nearly every day and if I’ve not done that, I’ve been back home with my dad in Wexford, as he has a few horses as well. In the afternoons I’ve been going to Race (Racing Academy and Centre of Education) four days a week.

"I’ve been doing an hour in the gym up there and a bit of physiotherapy. The physiotherapy has been going well and the gym has been helping me. I’ve made sure I’ve kept going and not just sat around the house."

All Fastorslow's wins for Brassil have been at Grade 1 level and Slevin has been in the saddle for each one. He has won back-to-back Punchestown Gold Cups as well as last year's John Durkan. He is currently a 7-1 shot with Paddy Power to win the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

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