Slevin hopeful ahead of Fastorslow Savills' target JJ Slevin is hopeful leading chaser Fastorslow can improve on a recent comeback run as the Martin Brassil-trained gelding targets the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on December 28. Winner of three Grade 1s at Punchestown, each time defeating dual Cheltenham Gold Cup-winner Galopin Des Champs, Fastorslow returned following a 364-day off layoff in November’s John Durkan Chase when finishing an encouraging third behind Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File. Regarding his dual Punchestown Gold Cup-winner, Slevin states “It was a great run in the Durkan Chase and not getting too hard a race was probably the main thing, returning from a layoff. I loved the way he hit the line at Punchestown and he has run well at Leopardstown in the past so I’m looking forward to him.” Fastorslow is currently an 8/1 chance for the Savills Chase and is 25/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup next March. Slevin also has high-profile Grade 1 rides on Home By The Lee and Solness, who are both trained by Joseph O’Brien, and the rider added “Leopardstown has also been a lucky venue for Home By The Lee and it looks like being a very good race this year, with plenty good three-mile hurdlers about. He has been very good there over the past two years so hopefully he can turn up again and run another big race.” “Solness seems to like it around Leopardstown, he has had two good wins and seems in good form at home. The ground has been quite deep this winter and everyone knows he is better on a sounder surface, so the best chance we have of getting that is in Leopardsstown. We’re hoping for the best.”
