Rocky's Diamond
Noted after his run in the Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, Rocky's Diamond is worthy of another mention after he took another step forward in winning the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park last Thursday. Keen enough through the early part of the race, he was in front from a long way out, from before the sixth last flight, and he was challenged from the second last, but he found plenty for Shane Fitzgerald in front and, while Thedevilscoachman came at him late, he was always holding him. He left the impression that he was winning with at least a little bit in hand.
There was a lot to like about this performance from Declan Queally's horse. He had run a massive race at a massive price in the Grade 1 Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, when he finished third behind Home By The Lee and Bob Olinger despite not having had an ideal run through the race, and this was a step forward from that. His jumping was much better here than it was there, and there is every chance that he can improve again over his obstacles. This was just his sixth run over hurdles.
He has to enter the picture for the Stayers' Hurdle now, despite the fact that he is a five-year-old. Five-year-olds have a terrible record in the Stayers' Hurdle on the face of it, no five-year-old has ever won the race. But now many try. Indeed, there hasn't been a five-year-old runner in the race since 2015. Also, no five-year-old had ever won the Galmoy Hurdle in the 23-year history of the race, until Rocky's Diamond won it on Thursday. As well as that, this year's crop of five-year-olds - last season's juvenile hurdlers - appear to be an unusually talented bunch. Nurburgring won the Galway Hurdle, Sir Gino won the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and the Wayward Lad Chase, Majborough was superb in winning his beginners' chase, Burdett road won the Greatwood Hurdle, and others. Anzadam is also a member of the crop, even though he didn't race in Britain or Ireland last season. Teahupoo aside, the Stayers' Hurdle picture is not a deep picture this year, and Rocky's Diamond is fully deserving of his place in it.
Gowran Park, 23rd January 2025
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