- Trainer: Nicky Henderson
- Age: 6 y/o
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Race Type: Jump
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Description: Chestnut Gelding
- 2018/22 Runs: 5
- 2018/22 Placed: 3 (1 win)
After finishing 3rd and 2nd respectively in his only two starts in bumpers (at Warwick and Kempton) the previous season, Diamond River came back the following season and got off the mark at Uttoxeter on Saturday 22nd August. He went off 5-4 favourite of the National Hunt flat race and confirmed this by winning with plenty in hand.
Jockey Nico de Boinville reported after the race that he ran quite greenly, particularly towards the end when he ran wide on the bend into the homestraight, but still did the business, winning by 3 1/4 lengths and no doubt will have learnt plenty to go forwards with for his career over hurdles.
His next run was back at Uttoxeter, this time over hurdles for the first time, he raced quite freely and was not always fluent at his hurdles. Nico was, quite rightly, careful to not be too hard on him as his maiden experience over the obstacles and eventually finished 5th, but still only beaten 6 1/2 lengths by the favourite. Afterwards, Nicky felt a bit of intensive work on his jumping would benefit the so he went to Henrietta Knight’s for 10 days to do just that.
He has ran since in another Novice Hurdle at Kempton where this time and looked to jump a lot more fluently and was just a bit one-paced when they turned for home so got slightly left behind to finish an eventual 4th. He had dropped back in trip to 2 miles for this race and both Nicky and Nico felt that he could do with stepping up to at least half a mile further so he will plan to run over 2m4-5f next time out.
Unfortunately, after lots of work on his schooling and looking to be in good shape to run again, in March 2021 Diamond River suffered an injury to his near-fore (front right) during his work and has unfortunately damaged the tendon deeming him out of work for the rest of the current syndicate. He is currently at Hillwood Stud undergoing a period of rest and rehabilitation to ensure his leg is fully recovered before he returns to any sort of training.
