Let's get ready to rumble: it's round seven as Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow meet in a John Durkan for the ages

It has been a frustrating start to the 2024-25 jumps season, with many of the game's big names forced to wait for their seasonal returns due to the weather. But it's all about to change this weekend, with a series of heavyweight contests taking place on both sides of the Irish Sea.

And it doesn't get much bigger than Sunday's John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown (2.25), which sees two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs renew his riveting rivalry with Fastorslow. Throw into the mix the prodigious Fact To File – who leads a three-strong team for JP McManus – and it's a race to bring the season roaring to life . . .

Galopin Des Champs

Form: /3111-2

Highest Racing Post Rating: 184

Strengths: Where to start? Galopin Des Champs is the back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cup winner who will bid to join Best Mate, Arkle, Cottage Rake and Golden Miller by completing the hat-trick in March. His trainer Willie Mullins had to wait until Al Boum Photo in 2019 before finally scratching his Gold Cup itch – and just six years later Galopin Des Champs could be giving him a fifth success in the big one.

Galopin Des Champs: back-to-back Gold Cup winnerCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Weaknesses: Like many returning stars, there is every chance Galopin Des Champs will need his first run of the season and his long-term aim will be Cheltenham glory. There are also questions over the 2m4f trip, while three of his four defeats over fences have come at the hands of Fastorslow at Punchestown. That said, he won this race first time out in 2022 en route to his maiden Gold Cup win.

Odds: 4-1

Galopin Des Champs14:25 Punchestown

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Jky: Tnr: W P Mullins

Fastorslow

Form: /12U1-

Highest Racing Post Rating: 175

Strengths: As course form goes, Fastorslow's record at Punchestown is impressive. His last three appearances at the County Kildare track have returned three Grade 1 wins in back-to-back Punchestown Gold Cups and last year's John Durkan – beating Galopin Des Champs on all three occasions – so he clearly knows his way around. That John Durkan win was his first appearance of last season, so there should be no concerns about him heading into Sunday fresh.

Fastorslow (left): beat Galopin Des Champs again to win the 2024 Punchestown Gold CupCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Weaknesses: Fastorslow was travelling well when unseating at the 16th in last season's Gold Cup, so we never got to find out if he has the class or stamina to match a fully primed Galopin Des Champs over a longer trip – although this won't be a concern this weekend. Eyebrows were raised when he wasn't given an entry for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase, a race for which he was among the favourites, but trainer Martin Brassil later said his omission wasn't due to a setback.

Odds: 5-2

Fastorslow14:25 Punchestown

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Jky: Tnr: Martin Brassil

The rivalry – Galopin Des Champs 3 Fastorslow 3

December 19, 2022, John Durkan Memorial Chase – Galopin 1 Fastorslow 0

The first meeting between the two was a non-contest, as Galopin Des Champs justified 2-9 favouritism on his first start out of novice company to win by 13 lengths from Fakir D'Oudairies with Fastorslow, sent off at 66-1, finishing fifth.

April 26, 2023, Punchestown Gold Cup – Galopin 1 Fastorslow 1

The race where the rivalry really began. Galopin Des Champs arrived at Punchestown fresh from his maiden Gold Cup win at Cheltenham, and the 4-11 favourite looked set for a three-way battle with Bravemansgame and Envoi Allen as he turned for home. However, it was 20-1 shot Fastorslow who spoiled the party and announced himself as a major player in the staying chase division.

November 26, 2023, John Durkan Memorial Chase – Galopin 1 Fastorslow 2

Fastorslow confirmed the Punchestown form back at the track seven months later, edging a thriller when sent off at 9-1. Paul Townend had to get to work on Galopin Des Champs early and was forced to settle for third, with stablemate Appreciate It the one narrowly denied on the line.

Galopin Des Champs: reasserted his dominance at Leopardstown in the Irish Gold CupCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

February 3, 2024, Irish Gold Cup – Galopin 2 Fastorslow 2

Any suggestions Fastorslow was now the superior force were emphatically put to bed in their next meeting, with Galopin Des Champs a dominant winner at Leopardstown with another Gold Cup beckoning at Cheltenham. Come at the king, you better not miss.

March 15, 2024, Cheltenham Gold Cup – Galopin 3 Fastorslow 2

Fastorslow's 16th fence fall meant the race never turned into the latest duel between the two, but Galopin Des Champs cemented his status as the best in the business by securing his second Gold Cup.

May 1, 2024, Punchestown Gold Cup – Galopin 3 Fastorslow 3

Fastorslow was back to his best here, completing a Punchestown Gold Cup double in fine fashion. Galopin Des Champs' Cheltenham exertions told, but he still kept his rival honest and stayed on well to comfortably take second.

It's time for round seven, ding ding ding . . .

Targets for the season

All roads lead back to Cheltenham for Galopin Des Champs, with the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on December 28 a potential Christmas target and the Irish Gold Cup at the same track on February 1 another likely stepping stone on his journey back to the Cotswolds.

For Fastorslow, the picture is less clear. He could join Galopin Des Champs in the Savills, but will connections be tempted to supplement him for the King George? They will need to stump up £4,600 by midday on December 18 if so.

Is it a two-horse race?

Well, no.

Improbably, neither Galopin Des Champs nor Fastorslow are favourite for Sunday's race. Galopin's stablemate Fact To File has that honour, and he has been widely touted as a Gold Cup horse since his victory in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham in March.

Fact to File: a danger to the big two?Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Fact To File is making his course debut and this is by far the toughest assignment of his fledgling career, but if his potential is transferred to the track he could give the big two something to think about.

The JP McManus team is completed by Spillane's Tower and Inothewayurthinkin, while Grangeclare West and Blue Lord make up the rest of the likely Mullins challenge.

Where can I watch it?

The John Durkan will be televised by RTE2 in Ireland and on Racing TV, or you can watch via the Racing Post app by logging in through your bookmaker of choice.

The verdict

By Anthony Ive

Fastorslow is a Punchestown legend and will take all the beating. His record at the track is 225111, with the fifth coming when 66-1 in this race in 2022 on only his second start over fences.

Having won the Punchestown Gold Cup for two years on the bounce, he’s as solid as you can get if the weather stays dry.

Ante-post favourite Fact To File looks too short considering he has never run at Punchestown, has been seen only once on yielding ground and is up against by far the best field he has faced over fences.

The form of his Brown Advisory win is also open to question after runner-up Monty’s Star and fourth-placed Sandor Clegane both finished behind Spillane’s Tower at the Punchestown festival.

Galopin Des Champs, who won the John Durkan in 2022 and was third last year, is a serious contender if fully wound up, but the main aim for the season is a third Cheltenham Gold Cup and racing greatness.

Fastorslow14:25 Punchestown

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Jky: Tnr: Martin Brassil

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