Slevin is aiming to take his career to a whole new level
In-form jockey has high hopes for Cheltenham
GREEN silks flapping in the breeze, the walk from the parade ring to the jockeys’ room on Sunday at Leopardstown took that bit longer for JJ Slevin.
Even when you’ve ridden a 20/1 winner that few punters have backed, the feat carries currency and Slevin was in demand for a handful of photos, and an autograph or two.
Whether he’d come first or last on Brucio in the Paddy Mullins Mares’ Hurdle, Slevin would have stopped anyway, as he’s that sort of man, both personal and professional.
In five weeks’ time he heads to the Cheltenham Festival with a fair book of rides, including Fastorslow, second favourite for the Gold Cup and Banbridge, the likely favourite for the Ryanair Chase.
It’s a far cry from when he went over without a single ride for the week.
‘Sure it is mental when you think about it,’ he smiled.
‘I started off in Point-to-Points. I never thought I’d even be riding at Leopardstown in the Dublin Racing Festival or thinking about a Cheltenham Gold Cup. I have
“I never thought
I’d be racing in a Gold Cup”
never got close to it before.’
At 31, Slevin has two wins at the Festival on his CV, in 2017 on Champagne Classic in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle and in 2019 on Band Of Outlaws in the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle.
In between, he enjoyed his career highlight, on General Principle in the 2018 Irish National in one of the all-time craziest finishes to the great race.
In terms of Grade One status, the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham is a different level and the Gold Cup is up again from that.
Galopin Des Champs is the hot favourite to retain his crown but if there’s a rival that can put it up to the champ, it’s the Martin Brassil-trained Fastorslow, who has gazumped ‘Galopin’ twice, most recently in the John Durkan Chase last November.
Last Saturday at Leopardstown, Fastorslow was second best in the Irish Gold Cup by four and a half lengths but Slevin drew encouragement from the run.
‘He’s the only horse that has probably been able to give your man (Galopin) a race when he’s been in top order. That’s a positive that you can take from it.
‘It’s the Cheltenham Gold Cup now and we’re looking forward to getting there in one piece. It’ll be a big day, and sure he’s going there with a fighting chance.
‘This is the proper heavyweight decider now. It’s great to even be involved and thinking about a race like that.
Might Slevin do things differently in the hurly burly of the Gold Cup?
‘Of course. When you lose, you always think of something. The Gold Cup will be a different tempo of a race. Cheltenham is a different track too so we’ll see.’
Banbridge and Slevin have been in harness since a maiden hurdle at Punchestown in May 2021, one of seven successes together, most recently in the Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton.
‘He’s won more races than he’s lost (nine wins from 15 runs), that’s a hard thing to do over jumps. He’s a fair horse now
‘He’s going for the “Ryanair”. Hopefully the ground is not too slow for him because he’d have a fighting chance in that.
‘He’s a better horse on better ground, that’s the long and the short if it. He went to Aintree last year and won a Grade One (Manifesto Chase).’
Banbridge is trained by Joseph O’Brien, a first cousin of Slevin and a chief source of his rides, along with Brassil, whose artillery may also be small in number but high-powered in ability.
The two-tone green silks of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede are familiar at the elite level of jump racing, such as El Fabiolo, unbeaten over fences and oddson for the Champion Chase next month.
While Daryl Jacob is the retained No 1 jockey, Slevin’s ability to do a feather weight, coupled with his alliance to trainer Stuart Crawford, saw him booked for Brucio on Sunday.
It’s quite the spin from Piltown to Larne and back to ride out, but Slevin doesn’t grumble.
‘I’ve built up an association with the Crawfords since I was claiming five pounds. They’re very good horsemen, coming from an eventing background.
‘I learned plenty up there about jumping and different techniques of riding so it’s good for me. Once it’s enjoyable, you don’t mind the travel.
‘Stuart is very good to me and thankfully, Simon and Isaac have let me ride a few. If Daryl can’t do the weight, I get up on the odd one here and there.’
Slevin is enjoying a fine season, with 26 winners in Ireland leaving Leopardstown.
‘We’re hacking away. I had 44 last year and that was a good year. I mightn’t get to that this year. If I get over 30 that’d be good. I’ll keep trying anyway.’
And whether he wins, or not, Slevin will always make time for a request from a racegoer for a selfie or a signature. His decency runs deep.