Diamond team look to Kempton

Connections of Diamond Harry are hoping last year’s Hennessy winner will be suited by going right-handed for the first time in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on December 26.

The Nick Williams eight-year-old, owned by the Paul Duffy Diamond Partnership, will face a tough task coming up against four-times King George hero Kauto Star and last year’s victor Long Run in the Christmas feature.

And he has a bit to find after finishing fourth behind that pair and Weird Al in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

But Duffy believes there might be some improvement to come from Diamond Harry, who ran at Haydock after missing the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby three weeks earlier, when he was cast in his box at the racecourse.

“He was up there and, on reflection, he ran up to his mark at Haydock. Our intention is to go for the King George,” he said.

“He actually took Kauto Star on. He missed a couple but attacked his fences. At one stage I thought he was going to do it, and then we realised he had run out of petrol.

“The race was run at a real pace. Kauto Star went at it from the start and our boy kept with him.

“I think Kempton will suit him. He hasn’t gone that way round yet, so we don’t know.

“There’s five weeks to the King George. Hopefully it will be enough.

“We go into the next round hopeful of competing against the best horses in the UK.”