Rocky’s Diamond delivers knockout blow in Galmoy Hurdle

Rocky’s Diamond put in a sparkling performance to take the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park.

Trained by Declan Queally and ridden by Shane Fitzgerald, the five-year-old came into the race with an eyecatching piece of form to his name having finished third in the Grade One Savills Hurdle at Christmas.

He was a 66-1 chance on that occasion, but was given more respect this time when starting at 5-1 for the Grade Two in a field of nine.

There were some well-known names among them, but Rocky’s Diamond was always in touch and looked threatening throughout the three-mile trip.

As the race reached its conclusion he took up the lead and held off all challengers to succeed by a length and a quarter from Thedevilscoachman, cutting his odds for the Stayers’ Hurdle from 50-1 to 16-1 with Betfair.

“He was very good and jumped super,” said Fitzgerald.

“He got a little bit lonely in front and I got lit up a bit when Gavin (Brouder, on Franciscan Rock) came down my outside coming down the straight.

“He probably wasn’t as fluent jumping when he hit the front, but he just battled gamely the whole way to the line.

“He was just doing too much the whole time, but he was very game to the line.

“It was a savage training performance and there’s definitely more to come from this lad. He’s still only a baby, he’s only had a couple of runs.

“He just has an awful lot of ability. Hopefully they will keep me on him, but he definitely has a bright future.”

The Cheltenham Festival could be on the agenda now, with Queally adding: “He’s only five, clear-winded, great heart and stays forever – a brilliant horse.

“He has an entry in the Stayers’ Hurdle. He’s cool, doesn’t get overexcited so you wouldn’t rule it out. I think a better gallop would suit him, but he did well there off slow fractions.

“When he turned in I thought he would get swallowed up but he’s not a slow horse either.

“He was a bit of a fool as a younger horse, but he’s grown and he’s matured.

“He does things easily at home so it’s hard to know how good he’s going to be. He’s light-framed so we don’t kill him. Hopefully he’ll keep improving.”

Tom Mullins’ Coral River got his head in front for the first time when winning the Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle.

An 11-2 chance under Danny Mullins, the six-year-old was second in three of his bumper starts and made his debut over obstacles at Naas earlier in the month.

He clearly needed that run and came on for the experience when securing a three-length victory over Gordon Elliott’s Kish Bank.

“I was worried that they were going too slow because he definitely wants a trip,” said the trainer.

“He badly needed the run in Naas the last day, both for fitness and experience over hurdles.

“The obvious thing now would be to get him right for the final in Punchestown. I don’t know what we’ll do in between, but that’s the main target.

“It looked like they went hard enough up front and I thought we had no chance for the majority of the race.”

Gavin Cromwell’s Aspurofthemoment prevailed as the 4-1 favourite under Keith Donoghue in the Langtons Kilkenny Handicap Hurdle.

The performance was a stable debut for the gelding, who was previously trained by Eugene O’Sullivan.

“We bought him in Goresbridge before Christmas and that’s his first run. We’re still trying to figure him out to be honest,” Cromwell said.

“I don’t think he was in love with the ground and, when he got him out onto the better ground up the straight, he rallied really well.

“He’ll definitely go further and we’ll see what the handicapper does.

“It’s a great initiative to have one of these races on a big day like this, it’s great for the owners.”