J J Slevin is doing his best to keep his feet on the ground as he prepares to shoot for Cheltenham Gold Cup glory aboard Fastorslow.
The County Wexford-born rider already has a couple of Festival victories on his CV, breaking his duck aboard Champagne Classic in the 2017 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle before doubling his tally two years later after steering Band Of Outlaws to success in the Boodles.
He has enjoyed Grade One success on home soil both before and since those Cheltenham triumphs, as well as securing an Irish Grand National verdict, but could take his career to new heights if he can strike blue riband gold on his return to the Cotswolds.
It could all have been so different for Slevin, who earned himself a degree in journalism before the pulling power of riding horses proved all too much. One fancies he made the right call.
“It was a back-up really, I knew how hard riding horses was and how hard it was to make a living out of it,” said Slevin.
“History and English were my best subjects in school and I thought I’d go for journalism. I suppose to say I really loved it would be stretching it, but I got through it.”
In the past 12 months, Slevin appears to have come across his horse of a lifetime, with Fastorslow elevating himself from high-class handicapper to a major contender for the sport’s highest honours.
Even his rider admits to having been surprised by his rise through the ranks, saying: “He always felt like a nice horse, but the unfortunate thing is there’s loads of horses that feel like a nice horse but don’t get there.
“It would have been hard to envisage he’d get to where he’s got to, in all honesty.”
Fastorslow has twice been narrowly denied a Cheltenham Festival win, going down by just a short head to Commander Of Fleet in the 2022 Coral Cup and pushing subsequent Grand National hero Corach Rambler to a neck in last season’s Ultima Handicap Chase.
It was after that second effort at Prestbury Park that he really found another gear, as he inflicted a shock defeat upon the Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs in the Punchestown Gold Cup – and he proved that was no fluke by beating the same horse again on his comeback in the John Durkan at the same venue.
Galopin Des Champs comprehensively turned the tables when they clashed again in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown, but Slevin is optimistic his mount can make more of a race of it at Cheltenham.
“It was a good run (at Leopardstown), hopefully we’ll have a different scenario in the Gold Cup and hopefully we can turn the tables on him. It won’t be easy, but we’ll see,” he said.
“I got upsides him and made him work and I was hoping he might not pick up, but he did. For a minute, I thought it might be on, but your man found another gear and he’s a very good horse, isn’t he?
“Galopin probably likes a bit softer ground and our lad is versatile enough. I’d say Leopardstown really suits Galopin as well, any track suits him, but he really likes Leopardstown.
“I think a different scenario of the race is probably going to be a big thing, I’d imagine it’ll unfold a good bit different to Leopardstown, with a bigger field and flowing along, with a few more going forward – and we can use his jumping and use his travelling.”
It is this perceived mixture of speed and stamina that Slevin views as key to Fastorslow’s chances of charging up the famous Cheltenham hill in front, a scenario he is keen to put to the back of his mind until the moment of truth arrives.
“Very few horses would give you a feel like him, he’s pure class, all quality and a real athlete,” he added.
“He’s loads of speed and Galopin is the same. Those Gold Cup horses, they could turn up against the top two milers and probably give them a race, that’s the sort of horse you need. They’re the best beasts over fences in these isles at the moment.
“It would be massive to win a Gold Cup, you don’t even dream about it really, it’s that sort of stuff.
“I don’t even let myself think about it at the moment, to be second-favourite for a Gold Cup. We just take it day by day.”
It is certainly not a one-horse show as far as Slevin is concerned, with Ryanair Chase favourite Banbridge, Triumph Hurdle hopeful Nurburgring and Stayers’ Hurdle outsider Home By The Lee also among his likely rides.
To be heading to the sport’s showpiece meeting with a handful of live chances is not something the jockey takes for granted.
He said: “You did dream growing up and then as you get older, you think it’s never going to happen, so I’m looking forward to it.
“It’s been a while since my last Cheltenham winner, they’re hard to come by and another one would definitely be nice.”
Supreme Ventures Racing urges review of racing rule after Caymanas Park abandonments
Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), operators of Caymanas Park, have called for a review of Rule 44 (iii) enforced by the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) following the cancellation of two races during the April 27 race meet at Caymanas Park.
In a press conference on Monday addressing the abandoned races, SVREL Executive Chairman Solomon Sharpe expressed frustration with the rule, highlighting its potential impact on the racing industry.
"This rule, unique to Jamaica, imposes a strict five-minute limit after the published post time for races at Caymanas Park," Sharpe stated. "It fails to account for various factors that can delay race starts and penalizes all stakeholders when races are abandoned, affecting punters, jockeys, grooms, trainers, owners, promoters, and the government."
Last year, Caymanas Park contributed over $260 million in combined taxes to the government's coffers. Sharpe urged the JRC to engage SVREL in discussions on Rule 44, emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue to address the rule's impact.
"We were not consulted during the initial discussions on this rule, and now, with two races abandoned in a single race day, our concerns have materialized," Sharpe explained. "SVREL is open to collaborating with the JRC to review and refine this amended rule."
Representatives from the Grooms Association, Jockeys Association, and the United Racehorse Trainers Association echoed SVREL's concerns and supported the call for a review of Rule 44.
Sharpe concluded by appealing to regulators, stakeholders, and the public to support the growth of the horseracing industry in Jamaica. "Horseracing has immense potential in Jamaica and can become a significant foreign exchange earner. Realizing this potential requires collaboration among all stakeholders."
SVREL has been operating Caymanas Park since March 2017 after the government divested the property. With investments exceeding J$4 billion in product enhancements and innovations like the Mouttet Mile, which boasts the largest purse in the English-speaking Caribbean, SVREL remains committed to advancing the horseracing experience in Jamaica.
Supreme Ventures Racing regrets abandonment of two races at Caymanas Park on Saturday
Supreme Ventures Racing & Entertainment Limited (SVREL) has expressed regret and disappointment following the abandonment of two races during the Saturday, April 27 race day at Caymanas Park in St Catherine, Jamaica.
The decision to abandon these races, SVREL said, was made in compliance with regulations set forth by the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC), leading to the refund of all related pools according to SVREL's Pari-mutuel rules.
According to the statement released by SVREL late Saturday, the abandonment of races number one and six, respectively, was declared by the stewards of the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) due to delays that exceeded the permitted time frame as stipulated by Rule 44(iii).
Specifically, in race number one, scheduled to commence at 12:00 pm, a saddling issue with horse number five and a mandatory veterinary check for horse number eight, which reared and fell after exiting the saddling barn, resulted in delays beyond the allowable limit.
Similarly, race number six, slated for 3:10 pm, was delayed due to a horse running loose, ultimately leading to its abandonment by the stewards of the JRC.
SVREL explained that the recent amendments to Rule 44(iii), which came into effect from April 1, 2024, mandate strict adherence to race start times with a maximum allowance of five minutes after the published post time. SVREL noted that Jamaica is unique in enforcing such a rule without prior consultation with the sole promoter of horseracing in Jamaica.
The enforcement of this rule has led to financial losses for industry stakeholders, including owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, punters, and the promoter and as such the disruption caused by the abandonment of these races understandably resulted in unrest among stakeholder groups.
Despite the challenges faced, the race meet resumed with race number seven at approximately 4:00 pm, SVREL noted.
SVREL has now issued a sincere apology to valued customers and stakeholders for the inconvenience caused by the abandonment of races one and six by the JRC. SVREL also emphasized its readiness for open dialogue with the JRC and all impacted stakeholders to ensure the continued success and integrity of the horseracing industry.
As the sole promoter of horseracing in Jamaica, SVREL said it remains committed to addressing challenges collaboratively and upholding the highest standards of professionalism and service within the industry.
Light seeking to shine again at Sandown
Kitty’s Light is taking aim at his usual season finisher in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.
The gelding has been a star for trainer Christian Williams, winning big handicap events like the Eider Chase and the Scottish Grand National and going close in the Charlie Hall and the Coral Trophy.
He has particularly good record in the bet365 Gold Cup on the final day of the season, missing out only due to interference when second in 2021 and coming home third in 2022.
Last year he was completed the set of podium finishes when winning by two and a half lengths under usual jockey Jack Tudor.
The two are well acquainted and teamed up for Kitty’s Light’s Grand National bid at Aintree earlier in the month, where he ran a valiant race to finish fifth behind four Grade-One winning Irish chasers.
Williams was incredibly proud of his stable star and is now hoping the gelding can shine again in the Sandown contest he has found to be lucrative in the past.
“It was wonderful, we trained him to win the race and we thought he could, but you couldn’t be disappointed with what he did,” Williams said of the National performance.
“We were thrilled, the horse tried his best and we were very, very proud of horse and jockey.
“He’s come out of it very well, if the race was run today even then he’d be running, he’s in good form.
“He loves it at Sandown with the big fences, his jumping has come on now but even as a five-year-old he nearly won the race.
“He was third the year after that, it really seems to suit him.
“I think he likes going right-handed, he hangs a little bit right at home and he seems to really enjoy it there.
“We’re taking our chance anyway, he seems well and we’ll hope for the best.”
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