Rocky's Diamond
Another horse who has appeared here more than once this season, Rocky's Diamond ran a big race to finish fourth in the Stayers' Hurdle. It was a big ask for a five-year-old, no five-year-old had ever won the modern-day Stayers' Hurdle, but Declan Queally's horse proved that he belonged in this company. He raced prominently from early, up on the outside of the leader Gowel Road from flagfall, and he moved to the front at the fifth last flight. He led or disputed from there until the entrance to the home straight and, even after he was passed, he kept on admirably for Shane Fitzgerald to take fourth place, just failing by a half a length to get back up and re-pass The Wallpark for third.
It was another fine run by Rocky's Diamond, after his big run to finish third in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown, and the career-best performance that he put up in winning the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park in February. He is all stamina, so the moderate stop-start gallop of this year's Stayers' Hurdle shouldn't have suited him. A stronger pace would probably have helped him, and he could do even better with a lead. He will be of interest if he goes for the Liverpool Hurdle or the Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown and, looking further ahead, he could be a leading player among the top staying hurdlers next season, as a more mature five-going-six-year-old.
Cheltenham, 13th March 2025
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