Diakali devastating in Fairyhouse opener

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.”