Easy win for well-backed Diamond

The well-backed Diamond Cauchois made a mockery of his handicap mark, as he came home an easy winner of the Grade B Tara Handicap Hurdle.

A good third on his debut for Gordon Elliott at Naas last month, the French bred gelding opened at 5/2 on-course, before going off the clear 6/4 favourite under Davy Russell.

Settled in mid-division, he took closer order on the approach to the straight, and cruised through to lead after two out.

He then asserted after the last, and never came off the bridle, going on to score easily by eight lengths. Fine Rightly (8/1) was best of the rest, finishing second under Andrew Lynch for Stuart Crawford, while 33/1 chance Grand Partner was another four lengths back in third for Jack Kennedy and Tom Mullins.

Elliott said afterwards: "He ran a nice race at Naas, and we were hoping he'd come on from that run and he did. He'll probably go for the Pertemps Qualifier over three miles now at Leopardstown."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee