Search
Cheltenham 2024
- Main Site
- Cheltenham Home
- Cheltenham Cards
- Cheltenham Results
- Cheltenham Offers
- Cheltenham Odds
- Cheltenham Tips
- Cheltenham News
- Prestbury Cup
- Cheltenham Videos
-
Cheltenham Statistics
- Leading Trainer
- Leading Jockeys
- Leading Owners
- Previous Years
- Previous Appearances
- Breeding Profile of Winners
- Lady Jockeys at The Festival
- Leading Jockey Award Winners
- Most Successful Jockeys of All Time
- Current Jockeys Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Jockey In..
- Leading Trainer Award Winners
- Most Successfull Trainer All Time
- Current Trainers Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Trainer In..
- Cheltenham Trainer/Runner Index
- Desktop Site
Cheltenham 2024
- irishracing.com
- Cheltenham
- News
- Diakali devastating in Fairyhouse opener
Alan Magee
Diakali devastating in Fairyhouse opener
Diakali and Ruby Walsh
© Photo Healy Racing
Diakali turned the clock back with an impressive victory in the opening Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle at Fairyhouse this afternoon.
The eight-year-old grey son of Sinndar was a Grade 1 winner as a four-year-old but has been very lightly raced in recent seasons.
Willie Mullins’ charge showed the benefit of an outing at Leopardstown last month by pulverising his four rivals in this two-mile event.
The well-backed 9/4 chance made virtually all under Ruby Walsh, and had everything else in trouble when asserting approaching the straight.
He galloped on strongly from two out to record an impressive 20 lengths victory from Stars Over The Sea with Hidden Cyclone another seven lengths away in third.
The 6/5 favourite Jezki never looked that happy under Barry Geraghty, and was beaten a long way out trailing in last of the five.
Walsh said, “He’s not the most straight forward horse to train but he was in great nick today. He jumped and galloped.
“He was a high class horse in his day, and you wondered if he could get back to what he was as a juvenile.”