Connections of sidelined top chaser Fastorslow were on the mark with Cheltenham Bumper-placed James’s Gate (6/1) at Punchestown today, which made a winning return in the Punchestown Festival 2025 Tickets On Sale Maiden Hurdle.

Placed at the 2022 Cheltenham festival, the Sean & Bernardine Mulryan-owned gelding finished third at Grade 2 level on his previous run in a January novice hurdle and today, under Ricky Doyle, showed all of his old smart ability in accounting for runner-up Forty Coats by 4.5 lengths.

Winning trainer Martin Brassil last week ruled out his Punchestown Gold Cup winner Fastorslow for the season and reported “James’s Gate has had his problems but he's been in a good place since he came back this summer. We know he has raw talent from his bumper days and we'll see how much we can capatilise on that.

“I'd like to see his jumping improve a bit but he could be a talented horse going forward. He's a nice horse to have around the place, he's a lovely individual.”

Quotes from Gary Carson