WATCH: Diamond Days trots up fine after a difficult hurdling debut at Fontwell
19 Nov 2024
Diamond Days had an interesting start to life over hurdles to say the least on Sunday following his opening run in a bumper at the end of October.
Our newest National Hunt recruit made his way to Sussex for the opening race on the card at Fontwell, the Class 4 Novices' Hurdle over 2m1½f, with jockey Brendan Powell set to ride.
Sunday's race started in a fairly straightforward fashion, with Diamond Days taking up a position between the leading group and the three at the rear, around three or four lengths behind the group that went to the front from the get-go, including the hot favourite Authentic Legacy.
Diamond Days travelled strongly, but was a little keen at the same time throughout the early stages as they popped over the first few flights. He cleared them quite exuberantly, which wasn't too much of a surprise given that it was his first time seeing hurdles in a race scenario. As they headed around the second turn, which came as they galloped across the all-weather part of the track, Diamond Days didn't seem to react to it as we'd have hoped and it took Brendan an effort to keep him straight as the pair went quite wide at the bend.
Fortunately, on that occasion, it didn't cost him too much ground as he continued to travel well, but then it happened again on the third turn. Brendan still manage to have him on the bridle and only a handful of lengths of the leading pack as they approached the third flight from home, which he popped over well. However, then came the bend on the all-weather again, and for the third time he veered to the right. Despite Brendan trying his hardest to get him back straight, he could do little more, and subsequently had to pull Diamond Days up.
WATCH: Brendan Powell gives us his perspective of Diamond Days' steering issues at Fontwell
Obviously it was quite a frustrating day at the office for all involved, and when we spoke to Joe Tizzard he was just as bemused as he said Diamond Days had shown very little of that behaviour in all of his work so far at home. Thankfully, it wasn't any sort of medical or physical problem that caused the issues, but simply put down to a lack of experience and 'greenness'.
Due to Diamond Days being pulled up, it's unlikely that the effort will be counted as an official run that can contribute towards his opening handicap mark, so it'll be at least another three runs until then.
Stay tuned for the next update from Venn Farm as we wait to find out what the next steps will be for our four-year-old gelding from trainer Joe Tizzard.
Our newest National Hunt recruit made his way to Sussex for the opening race on the card at Fontwell, the Class 4 Novices' Hurdle over 2m1½f, with jockey Brendan Powell set to ride.
Sunday's race started in a fairly straightforward fashion, with Diamond Days taking up a position between the leading group and the three at the rear, around three or four lengths behind the group that went to the front from the get-go, including the hot favourite Authentic Legacy.
Diamond Days travelled strongly, but was a little keen at the same time throughout the early stages as they popped over the first few flights. He cleared them quite exuberantly, which wasn't too much of a surprise given that it was his first time seeing hurdles in a race scenario. As they headed around the second turn, which came as they galloped across the all-weather part of the track, Diamond Days didn't seem to react to it as we'd have hoped and it took Brendan an effort to keep him straight as the pair went quite wide at the bend.
Fortunately, on that occasion, it didn't cost him too much ground as he continued to travel well, but then it happened again on the third turn. Brendan still manage to have him on the bridle and only a handful of lengths of the leading pack as they approached the third flight from home, which he popped over well. However, then came the bend on the all-weather again, and for the third time he veered to the right. Despite Brendan trying his hardest to get him back straight, he could do little more, and subsequently had to pull Diamond Days up.
WATCH: Brendan Powell gives us his perspective of Diamond Days' steering issues at Fontwell
Obviously it was quite a frustrating day at the office for all involved, and when we spoke to Joe Tizzard he was just as bemused as he said Diamond Days had shown very little of that behaviour in all of his work so far at home. Thankfully, it wasn't any sort of medical or physical problem that caused the issues, but simply put down to a lack of experience and 'greenness'.
Due to Diamond Days being pulled up, it's unlikely that the effort will be counted as an official run that can contribute towards his opening handicap mark, so it'll be at least another three runs until then.
Stay tuned for the next update from Venn Farm as we wait to find out what the next steps will be for our four-year-old gelding from trainer Joe Tizzard.
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