Punchestown Gold Cup Odds: Fastorslow 11/4 to win Grade 1 feature

Many pundits feel it could be a showdown between two horses for the Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday, with Fastorslow and Galopin Des Champs set to go head-to-head again.

Two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs heads the market at 8/11 and has had the upper hand in recent races, but Fastorslow was the last horse to beat Willie Mullins' star.

The two eight-year-olds have been regular rivals over the past couple of years and connections of Fastorslow will hope their runner can gain revenge for the Irish Gold Cup Chase defeat at Leopardstown, where he is 11/4 to prevail.

The last time these two National Hunt stars did battle at this Irish track, it was Martin Brassil’s gelding that came out on top – winning the John Durkan Memorial Chase by one-and-three-quarter lengths back in November.

His previous win over his main rival was also at Punchestown, when victorious in this race 12-months ago – Fastorslow winning on that occasion by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

Since then though the Mullins star has beaten Fastorslow at Leopardstown and then claimed the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, with his rival unseating his rider at Prestbury Park.

In between those two races, Brassil’s charge underwent wind surgery and it remains to be seen what impact that might have, as they prepare for another Grade 1 contest.

The stats also give Mullins’ runner the edge, with Galopin Des Champs winning nine of his 12 races over jumps, compared to Fastorslow’s three wins from eight chase starts.

The going at Punchestown though might give Brassil and jockey JJ Slevin more hope, with the ground improving over the last few days.

The course is said to be good to yielding and it was yielding when Fastorslow last came out on top against his fierce rival, while Galopin Des Champs’ last three wins all came on soft ground.

When considering the next best in the market is former Grand National winner Corach Rambler, at 10/1, it is easy to see why some people are thinking it’s a two-horse race.

After another stellar jumps season, Willie Mullins will hope to claim another major prize, with three runners in the field – Capodanno and Appreciate It being the other two set to go to post.

Punchestown Gold Cup odds

• Galopin des Champs - 8/11
• Fastorslow - 11/4
• Corach Rambler - 10/1
• Hewick - 14/1
• Conflated - 16/1
• Journey With Me - 22/1
• Capodanno - 33/1
• Appreciate It - 40/1
• Gentlemansgame - 50/1

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.