Race conditions to help Diakali defy long lay-off

Diakali should register his first win since November 2013 in the Grade 3 Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary today.

The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old has been off the track for over a year but the 153-rated French-bred gelding is favoured by today’s race conditions and, if close to his best, should land the spoils in a race in which his veteran stable-companion Thousand Stars (also rated 153) must concede 9lb to the selection.

The market should prove a good guide to Diakali’s well-being.