Bally ho for dazzling Diamond
Williams trains a relatively small team of horses at his base in Devon but has unearthed an unbeaten six-year-old with bags of potential.
It was generally perceived he was below-par when beating Alan King’s Bensalem at Prestbury Park last time.
But Williams is confident punters will see the real deal in the Ballymore.
“Everything has gone great with him in the lead-up to the race – I even remembered to declare him!” said Williams.
“We can’t do anymore now, but we think he is in great form.
“I think everybody knows that he wasn’t quite as his best last time but he still managed to win.
“If we can get him back into the form that he was in at Chepstow, I think he should go very close.
“Everything is in place for him to run a really big race and I think he will do, it would be great for the smaller trainers if he could win.”
His main market rivals are Karabak, recently purchased by leading owner JP McManus, and Willie Mullins’ Mikael D’Haguenet.
Frank Berry, McManus’ racing manager, said of Karabak: “He’s done everything right since Ascot and it’s probably fair to say that (he is a worthy favourite).
“The form is there for everyone to see from Ascot and I know the team are extremely happy with him.
“The ground should not be too much of a problem and we’d be hoping for a good run.”
Mullins had hoped to see more rain for his French import, who has shown all his best form with plenty of give in the ground.
“The ground is just safe (for him). I would rather have seen more rain and there is a bit more forecast which would be welcome,” said the County Carlow handler.
“It’s just safe for him but I would certainly rather see softer conditions.
“He’s a Grade One winner over two and a half miles and he has won over two also, so two (miles) five (furlongs) shouldn’t be a problem.”
Paul Nicholls’ representatives in Grade One races can never be ignored and he runs The Nightingale, one of the most inexperienced horses in the field.
He slipped up on his hurdling debut at Exeter, with the race seemingly in the bag, but made no mistake at Taunton last time.
“He’s a bit of a dark horse. He should have won both his starts but he slipped up at Exeter,” said Nicholls.
“We haven’t had the chance to run him in a better race since but he’s got a chance of being in the frame.
“He’ll make a lovely chaser next year.”
