Top amateur Derek O'Connor drafted in for Fastorslow ride in John Durkan

Record-breaking amateur jockey Derek O'Connor is looking forward to riding Fastorslow in Sunday's Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown after being drafted in to replace the injured JJ Slevin. 

O'Connor, who came close to landing a historic treble of amateur races at the Cheltenham Festival last season, has never partnered the top-class chaser, who floored dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs for the second year in a row at the Punchestown festival in May.

O'Connor has ridden four winners for the trainer and owner combination of Martin Brassil and Sean and Bernadine Mulryan, most recently on bumper winner Don'tstopthemusic.

Slevin, who has partnered Fastorslow in all three of his Grade 1 wins at Punchestown, has been on the sidelines since October 4 with a broken bone in his foot, and had originally hoped to be back this weekend.

Fastorslow, who has not run since that Punchestown win, is a 2-1 chance with Paddy Power behind 11-8 favourite Fact To File to land the John Durkan for the second straight year.

O'Connor, who claimed a Grade 1 success over jumps in 2021 when he steered the Joseph O'Brien-trained Edwulf to a last-gasp triumph in the Irish Gold Cup, said: "It's lovely to be considered to ride such a high-profile horse like Fastorslow on such a prestigious day.

Inothewayurthinkin (Derek O'Connor) wins the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham FestivalCredit: Patrick McCann

"I've had a bit of luck for the owners so I'm looking forward to the ride in the John Durkan. He's a top horse with a good record at the track, so hopefully he can run a good race."

Fastorslow has built up a riveting rivalry with Galopin Des Champs, who he has beaten three times. The first duel ended with a comprehensive defeat in the John Durkan in 2022, before a shock 20-1 victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup later that season.

He confirmed that form in last season's John Durkan when Galopin Des Champs was third, before the form was reversed in the Irish Gold Cup. 

Another tussle failed to materialise in the Cheltenham Gold Cup as Fastorslow unseated Slevin at the 16th fence when still travelling well, but Brassil's eight-year-old made amends with a dominant display in the Punchestown Gold Cup on his last start.

Round seven of the saga could on the cards on Sunday with Galopin Des Champs one of ten entries for Willie Mullins, for whom Gaelic Warrior, Fact To File, Grangeclare West and Il Etait Temps are also possible runners.

John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (1.50 Punchestown, Sunday)
Paddy Power: 11-8 Fact To File, 2 Fastorslow, 4 Galopin Des Champs, 5 Gaelic Warrior, 11-2 Il Etait Temps, 6 Spillane's Tower, 14 bar

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