Rocky's Diamond
It's a little bit early to be thinking of National Hunt horses for the winter, but Rocky's Diamond fits right into that category and he was very good in winning on his chasing debut at Galway on Monday. The distance of two and a quarter miles was sharper than ideal and the ground, just on the easy side of good, was probably faster than ideal, and his trainer Declan Queally said beforehand that he expected him to come on for the run. The trainer did say that he expected him to go well though, and he did. His jumping really was very good for a chasing debutant. Rider Michael Kenneally quickly had him into a lovely racing rhythm, attacking his fences. He was fluent and accurate and efficient at just about all his fences and, challenged by the favourite My Great Mate on the run to the second last, he jumped the last two fences well and he stayed on well on the run up the hill to win by over five lengths.
Rocky's Diamond made great strides last season as a young staying hurdler. Third at a big price in the Grade 1 Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival last December as a four-year-old, he won the Galmoy Hurdle next time and then finished fourth in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham, a race that has never been won by a five-year-old in its current guise. It will be very interesting to see where Rocky's Diamond goes now, but it may pay to follow him wherever he goes. His sharp, fluent jumping will be a big asset against fellow novices now, and he should be seen to even better effect with this run under his belt and when he steps up in trip.
Galway, 8th September 2025
Back