Russian Diamond

Russian Diamond ran out a good winner of the two-mile-five-furlong beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday. Sent to the front early on by Brian Hayes, his jumping was good, and he had his better-fancied rivals on the stretch from early. He was chased by the two market leaders Port Stanley and Western Run as they raced across the top of the track, but it always looked like he was travelling better than that pair. As Western Run weakened, Port Stanley was left as his only real challenger, but he jumped the last two fences well and he cleared away to win impressively from Jessica Harrington’s horse, a 132-rated chaser, who was in turn clear of his other rivals.

Russian Rhythm’s form figures going into the race – F5F2U over fences – suggested that he wasn’t a great jumper of fences, but that is not the case. He jumped well in a beginners’ chase at the Galway Festival, and he was probably the most likely winner when he came down at the final fence. And on his last run before Saturday, he was brought down at the third last fence by Fancy Foundations, who fell in front of him, in the good Grade 3 novices’ chase at Tipperary that Gin On Lime won. This was much more like it from Emmet Mullins’ horse, he put it all together and he was impressive in winning. This intermediate type of trip is a good trip for him, and it appeared as if he enjoyed himself, bowling along in front.
Fairyhouse, 9^th October 2021