Rocky's Diamond lands impressive win for Queally
Shane Fitzgerald on Rocky’s Diamond comes home to win the The John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle (Grade 2) Photo: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
The Declan Queally trained Rocky's Diamond saw his odds for the Stayer's Hurdle at this year's Cheltenham Festival slashed after an impressive showing to win the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park today.
The five-year-old, with Shane Fitzgerald on his back, showed a real appetite for racing on heavy ground and quickened up nicely away from the last and held on nicely to win ahead of the second placed The Devil's Coachman.
The horse won at the same track last October before finishing third behind Home By The Lee and Bob Olinger in the Savill's Hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.
Queally said a shot at the Stayer's Hurdle at Cheltenham is certainly on the cards now.
“He has an entry in the Stayers’ Hurdle," said the Cappagh based handler.
"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.
“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.”
