DIAMOND HARRY PASSES NEWBURY TEST

February 13 2010

Diamond Harry beats Bensalem.

Diamond Harry maintained his unbeaten record over fences with a workmanlike victory in the three-mile toteplacepot Novices' Chase at Newbury.

Sent off the 4-6 favourite, Nick Williams' charge is one of the leading fancies for the RSA Chase but he will have to brush up on his jumping after a merely adequate round.

Inchidaly Rock set a steady pace throughout and each of the three contenders consistently jumped out to the right but all were in with a chance five out.

However, Bensalem cracked that obstacle and was lucky to stay on his feet allowing Diamond Harry to seize the initiative for Timmy Murphy as Inchidaly Rock began to toil.

Bensalem was not done with, though, and he conjured a renewed effort coming down to the second-last as Diamond Harry just started to come under pressure.

However, Murphy had enough in reserve to hold on for a two-length victory over the staying-on Bensalem.

Victor Chandler cut Diamond Harry to 5-1 from 6s for the RSA Chase, while at the same time trimming Bensalem to 14-1 from 20s.

Murphy said: "He's a big horse but he doesn't have a lot of scope and it's best just to fiddle away with him.

"He's done what he had to do but I hope he's better than that as he's a very talented horse."

Alan King would be eager to duck a rematch with Diamond Harry at Cheltenham.

He said: "He might just have learnt a bit from belting one of those fences today.

"He will have an entry in the William Hill and he might just go down the handicap route as I wouldn't be too keen to take on Diamond Harry again."