HENNESSY hero Diamond Harry set to have one more run before a tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The Nick Williams-trained chaser, carrying the colours of the Paul Duffy Diamond Partnership, scored a superb victory in Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, denying Denman – who finished third – an historic third win the prestigious handicap.
Williams is eyeing the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas or the Cheltenham trials day in January a the ideal stepping stone for his seven-year-old.
Diamond Harry is a 16-1 chance with Coral, Stan James and Boylesports.
Duffy said: “Where we go next, Nick and I will debate.
“We definitely don’t want more than one run and we’ll go for the Gold Cup now. We have to go for it, really, but what do we do between now and then?
“He might be entered for the Lexus. There are several options, and one of them is to go straight for the Gold Cup as he goes so well fresh. The first race he ran in was a bumper at Newbury and we waited another year to run him again in the same race which he won again. He needs to be fresh.”
Denman, meanwhile, was said be fine after his brave but ultimately failed bid to land a hat-trick in the Hennessy Gold Cup.
The Paul Nicholls-trained 10-year-old is likely to have a break and head back to the Cheltenham Gold Cup next March.
Owner Paul Barber said: “It was wonderful to be part of it all. He ran a great race, but at the time you have to take your hat off to the horses that were ahead of us. We’ve known all season that he’s got his old enthusiasm back.”
