Jacob delighted with Diamond Harry
The Hennessy Gold Cup winner, trained in Devon by Nick Williams, is going straight to the Festival without another run and the race cannot come soon enough.
Diamond Harry finished 15 lengths in front of Denman at Newbury, but will be nearly two stones worse off at Cheltenham and while Jacob is aware of that, he is also keen not to dismiss the chances of Denman’s stablemate Kauto Star.
“I sat on him this morning and he’s absolutely bouncing, he’s in great form,” said Jacob.
“Nick was saying he wishes the race was tomorrow, he’s that well and that fresh in himself.
“Nick will have him primed for the big day and hopefully he’s going there with a real live chance.
“He’s got a bit of form to find with Denman with the turn around at the weights, but hopefully he’ll be spot-on on the day and we can have a shot at it.
“Long Run was very impressive (in the King George) but you can’t write off Kauto Star no matter what you read.
“He’s had one bad run and while his form at Down Royal maybe wasn’t great he probably wasn’t tuned up that day.
“After one bad run everyone is trying to write him off but I’d never write him off, that’s for sure,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nacarat, fourth in the William Hill King George VI Chase for the second successive season on Saturday, has had a small wind operation.
Trainer Tom George stated earlier in the week that he was trying to get to the bottom of why the Charlie Hall Chase winner appeared to stop quickly in his races.
Now the bold-jumping grey has undergone surgery and will be given a short time off before returning to training.
“The procedure went well,” said George, “and hopefully the corrective surgery will help him see out the closing stages of his races.
“He will be returning home later today and will have 10 quiet days before resuming training.”
