Fastorslow landed back-to-back Punchestown Gold Cups for jockey J J Slevin and trainer Martin Brassil on Wednesday, beating old foe Galopin Des Champs.

Conflated set the pace with both Fastorslow and Galopin Des Champs sat in behind and the placings remained unchanged as the first three came out of the back straight. Fastorslow took up the lead at the third-last fence, with Paul Townend beginning to have to work aboard Galopin Des Champs as Gentlemansgame joined him for third place. Jockey J J Slevin was able to sneak clear on Fastorslow and stayed on well to the line for a historic Punchestown Gold Cup double, whilst Galopin Des Champ rallied to finish second ahead of the fast-finishing Hewick. 

Jockey J J Slevin said: "He's an absolute monster!

"He's some horse and is by far the best horse I've ever ridden.

"He was actually keen for the first mile and I was very worried about that. He had a bit of a go at the first down the back and came out of my hands, but he's an absolute machine.

"It was a long way home (from Cheltenham) but, at the end of the day, it is a horse race and you have to move on. There's a lot of people in worse situations."

Of the second, Galopin Des Champs, trainer Willie Mullins remarked: "Fastorslow is always good this time of the year and around this track. J J gave him a very brave ride, he didn't wait around for our fellow or anything like that – he went out and took the race by the scruff of the neck and it worked for him.

"Our fellow ran a great race and was staying on at the end, so more power to Fastorslow. It's great for Sean and Bernardine Mulryan and Martin Brassil.

"Paul (Townend) set out to make the running and the race sort of overtook him. There is no point in forcing a horse to make the running and I don't think he jumped well enough to make the running either.

"I'm happy with what happened and I think the better horse on the day won the race."

Paddy Power shortened Fastorslow from 20/1 to 7/1 for next year's Cheltenham Gold Cup.