Raceday LIVE – Diamond Days
Chepstow,
Fri 27 Dec 2024 12:00
Related horse(s):
Diamond Days
Diamond Days heads to Chepstow for Coral Welsh Grand National Day for his second run over hurdles in the Class 3 Novices' Hurdle (12:00) over two miles.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Diamond Days' lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
It's set to be a memorable day in Wales this afternoon as Diamond Days becomes our first horse to run at a Coral sponsored meeting. Along with his 10 owners for the day who were the lucky winners from the competition we ran at the end of November, there will also be the winners of our Chepstow Hospitality competition at the track who will get to see Diamond Days in action.
It's not been an easy start to life for our four-year-old son of Diamond Boy, but a recent discovery from an equine physio who visited Joe Tizzard's yard may have shed some light as to why. Following his first run in a bumper at Wincanton where he finished last of eight, Diamond Days was sent straight over hurdles as he headed to Fontwell. Despite travelling ok down the straight parts of the track, he struggled to handle some of the turns, forcing jockey Brendan Powell to go very wide on more than one occasion, and eventually it left him no choice but to pull him up before the final two hurdles.
WATCH: Brendan Powell shares his thoughts on Diamond Days' steering issues at Fontwell
After the race at Fontwell, the Tizzard team were just as bemused as us because they said that Diamond Days had never shown any signs like this whilst training at home. However, following a recent visit from an equine physio at Venn Farm, it was discovered that Diamond Days had a trapped nerve high up in his neck. Now although it's not 100% certain to have been the exact reason as to why Diamond Days underperformed on his hurdles debut, it sure is a possibility, and with that now treated, hopefully we'll see an improved performance at Chepstow this afternoon.
It's set to be a very competitive race at Chepstow this afternoon, with several of Diamond Days' opponents already getting off the mark over hurdles, but today will all be about trying to get our four-year-old back on track and giving him another opportunity to learn and gain vital race experience.
Raceday Message from Joe Tizzard
'We always like to support the Coral Welsh Grand National card, and having a runner for the Coral Racing Club on this card is an added bonus. As members of the Club know, the equine physio found Diamond Days had a trapped nerve in his neck, and that may have caused him to run the way he did at Fontwell, when he just never went around the bends at racing pace.
It's been treated, but as we don’t know for sure that’s what happened, we were always keen to run him at a more galloping track for his next run anyway, rather than a tight, turning track like Fontwell, and we’ll get him covered up on the inside for the first bend here, just to stop him running wide. As we didn’t learn anything about him at Fontwell, this is like his hurdles debut in a way, so we’re looking forward to seeing how he goes.'
Chris Dixon, Racing TV Analyst, provides an exclusive preview of today's 12:00 Chepstow
The solid run of form for trainer Joe Tizzard continued with a Boxing Day winner at Wincanton, but that’s the only obvious positive towards the chances of Diamond Days ahead of his second start over hurdles in the Chepstow opener on Coral Welsh Grand National Day. Having failed to beat a rival on his debut in a bumper, Diamond Days fared no better when pulled up at Fontwell on his first outing over hurdles last month. His jumping left a bit to be desired through to the point he was pulled up and it’s difficult to be positive about his claims in race that often requires a low to mid 120’s performance to win.
That’s likely to be the standard required again with the front two in the market, Julius Des Pictons and Clap Of Thunder bringing ratings of 123 and 120 respectively, into the race. On those figures, Julius Des Pictons is the horse to beat and his form has a solid look to it with his win from an in-form rival at Ludlow hard to knock, while his previous second to Western Knight at Uttoxeter well advertised by the winner following up under a penalty at Ascot prior to a Grade 2 second place finish at Cheltenham. However, that form has been over two and a half miles and for all this track often places an emphasis on stamina, it could be questioned as to whether Julius Des Pictons is sure to reproduce those efforts at this shorter trip.
With that in mind I wonder whether Clap Of Thunder may be the horse to beat. A consistent horse in bumpers, he’s also got some sound hurdles form in the book with an encouraging hurdles debut here followed by a win at Ascot and fifth in a competitive Cheltenham handicap last time. That Cheltenham form is almost certainly strong and is already stacking up well, so Clap Of Thunder still appeals as one to find more improvement. Yprum’s Law has also shown ability and isn’t without an each-way chance, along with Piper Park who showed ability on his only rules outing so far when third in a bumper at Wetherby. Shade Of Winter is also a horse of interest but potentially for another day rather than here, but he’s one to watch with a view to stepping ups in trip down the line.
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
Joe Tizzard was back in the winners enclosure on Boxing Day as Pedley Wood got his first win of the campaign. His record over the past two weeks includes three winners and nine placed efforts from 22 runners.
Brendan Powell partnered Pedley Wood at Wincanton yesterday for Joe Tizzard which took the jockey's record to 31 winners for the season so far. He has two rides at Chepstow today and the second will come in the Coral Welsh Grand National onboard No Hubs No Hoobs which will also be for Joe Tizzard.
Diamond Days' Owners for the Day
As winners of the Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Diamond Days' run at Chepstow this afternoon.
Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Chepstow Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Diamond Days and the Joe Tizzard team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Diamond Days.
Prize Money
Today's Class 3 contest is worth £15,000 in total, with the winner set to scoop £8,169 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £3,763 | 3rd: £1,881 | 4th: £492
CHEPSTOW 12:00 – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 12:00 to watch Diamond Days' second run over hurdles for the Club live on the Coral Sports app.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Diamond Days' lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
It's set to be a memorable day in Wales this afternoon as Diamond Days becomes our first horse to run at a Coral sponsored meeting. Along with his 10 owners for the day who were the lucky winners from the competition we ran at the end of November, there will also be the winners of our Chepstow Hospitality competition at the track who will get to see Diamond Days in action.
It's not been an easy start to life for our four-year-old son of Diamond Boy, but a recent discovery from an equine physio who visited Joe Tizzard's yard may have shed some light as to why. Following his first run in a bumper at Wincanton where he finished last of eight, Diamond Days was sent straight over hurdles as he headed to Fontwell. Despite travelling ok down the straight parts of the track, he struggled to handle some of the turns, forcing jockey Brendan Powell to go very wide on more than one occasion, and eventually it left him no choice but to pull him up before the final two hurdles.
WATCH: Brendan Powell shares his thoughts on Diamond Days' steering issues at Fontwell
After the race at Fontwell, the Tizzard team were just as bemused as us because they said that Diamond Days had never shown any signs like this whilst training at home. However, following a recent visit from an equine physio at Venn Farm, it was discovered that Diamond Days had a trapped nerve high up in his neck. Now although it's not 100% certain to have been the exact reason as to why Diamond Days underperformed on his hurdles debut, it sure is a possibility, and with that now treated, hopefully we'll see an improved performance at Chepstow this afternoon.
It's set to be a very competitive race at Chepstow this afternoon, with several of Diamond Days' opponents already getting off the mark over hurdles, but today will all be about trying to get our four-year-old back on track and giving him another opportunity to learn and gain vital race experience.
Raceday Message from Joe Tizzard
'We always like to support the Coral Welsh Grand National card, and having a runner for the Coral Racing Club on this card is an added bonus. As members of the Club know, the equine physio found Diamond Days had a trapped nerve in his neck, and that may have caused him to run the way he did at Fontwell, when he just never went around the bends at racing pace.
It's been treated, but as we don’t know for sure that’s what happened, we were always keen to run him at a more galloping track for his next run anyway, rather than a tight, turning track like Fontwell, and we’ll get him covered up on the inside for the first bend here, just to stop him running wide. As we didn’t learn anything about him at Fontwell, this is like his hurdles debut in a way, so we’re looking forward to seeing how he goes.'
Chris Dixon, Racing TV Analyst, provides an exclusive preview of today's 12:00 Chepstow
The solid run of form for trainer Joe Tizzard continued with a Boxing Day winner at Wincanton, but that’s the only obvious positive towards the chances of Diamond Days ahead of his second start over hurdles in the Chepstow opener on Coral Welsh Grand National Day. Having failed to beat a rival on his debut in a bumper, Diamond Days fared no better when pulled up at Fontwell on his first outing over hurdles last month. His jumping left a bit to be desired through to the point he was pulled up and it’s difficult to be positive about his claims in race that often requires a low to mid 120’s performance to win.
That’s likely to be the standard required again with the front two in the market, Julius Des Pictons and Clap Of Thunder bringing ratings of 123 and 120 respectively, into the race. On those figures, Julius Des Pictons is the horse to beat and his form has a solid look to it with his win from an in-form rival at Ludlow hard to knock, while his previous second to Western Knight at Uttoxeter well advertised by the winner following up under a penalty at Ascot prior to a Grade 2 second place finish at Cheltenham. However, that form has been over two and a half miles and for all this track often places an emphasis on stamina, it could be questioned as to whether Julius Des Pictons is sure to reproduce those efforts at this shorter trip.
With that in mind I wonder whether Clap Of Thunder may be the horse to beat. A consistent horse in bumpers, he’s also got some sound hurdles form in the book with an encouraging hurdles debut here followed by a win at Ascot and fifth in a competitive Cheltenham handicap last time. That Cheltenham form is almost certainly strong and is already stacking up well, so Clap Of Thunder still appeals as one to find more improvement. Yprum’s Law has also shown ability and isn’t without an each-way chance, along with Piper Park who showed ability on his only rules outing so far when third in a bumper at Wetherby. Shade Of Winter is also a horse of interest but potentially for another day rather than here, but he’s one to watch with a view to stepping ups in trip down the line.
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
Joe Tizzard was back in the winners enclosure on Boxing Day as Pedley Wood got his first win of the campaign. His record over the past two weeks includes three winners and nine placed efforts from 22 runners.
Brendan Powell partnered Pedley Wood at Wincanton yesterday for Joe Tizzard which took the jockey's record to 31 winners for the season so far. He has two rides at Chepstow today and the second will come in the Coral Welsh Grand National onboard No Hubs No Hoobs which will also be for Joe Tizzard.
Diamond Days' Owners for the Day
As winners of the Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Diamond Days' run at Chepstow this afternoon.
Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Chepstow Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Diamond Days and the Joe Tizzard team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Diamond Days.
Prize Money
Today's Class 3 contest is worth £15,000 in total, with the winner set to scoop £8,169 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £3,763 | 3rd: £1,881 | 4th: £492
CHEPSTOW 12:00 – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 12:00 to watch Diamond Days' second run over hurdles for the Club live on the Coral Sports app.
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