JJ SLEVIN will miss the HUGE ride on defending champion Fastorslow in the John Durkan Chase because of a gutting foot injury.
The Irish-based Martin Brassil has drafted in amateur rider Derek O’Connor as the lucky replacement for the Grade One.
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Despite not being a professional, O’Connor is a veteran amateur champion and has been described as “a master” over fences.
He’s also more than proven himself when taking on the professionals too. His big race successes include the 2018 Irish Gold Cup on the Joseph O’Brien-trained and J P McManus’-owned Edwulf.
And last March he just missed out on becoming the first rider to win all three amateur prizes at the Cheltenham Festival.
Brassil said: “He hasn’t ridden him on the track before, but he would actually have schooled him when he came to me originally.”
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But the Kildare-trainer is confident regardless of his jockey change.
He said: “He’s only an eight-year-old still and is only coming into his prime,” he said. “The ground wouldn’t really matter. He goes on yielding and handles soft so it shouldn’t be an issue.”
Slevin has been on board for all of Fastorslow’s eight runs over fences in the UK and Ireland.
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These include last year’s Durkan and the Gold Cup at the Punchestown festival TWICE.
But Slevin will have to watch on from the sidelines due to the broken bone in his foot.
He earlier reported that he needs another procedure on the injury, but reckons he’ll be back to fighting fit soon afterwards.
He said: “I would hope to be back comfortably for Christmas. You’d want to be riding a few days before Christmas to be riding at Christmas.”
Fact To File heads the betting for the race at 11-8, ahead of stablemate Galopin Des Champs, at 5-2.
Fastorslow is 11-4 for a repeat success following the latest entry stafe for the Grade One.
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