The recent form makes for interesting reading. Reading it from oldest to newest, Diamond Tipp went 13th, then 7th, then won, then backed it up with two third-place finishes, before finishing eighth last time out. That sequence — a big win sandwiched between a rough patch and a solid comeback — paints a picture of a horse finding its feet. The eighth-place finish was the last run, now 156 days ago, meaning Diamond Tipp is returning from roughly five months off. A fresh horse with something to prove is always one to watch.
In the saddle, Mr Finn Buckley has been the regular partner, riding in 5 of the 10 races together without a win between them. That's not necessarily a damning stat — horses and jockeys can click at any moment — but it does mean that partnership is still waiting for its moment. John C McConnell trains the horse from his yard in Stamullen, County Meath, and it's a stable operating with real confidence right now: 44 winners this season is a substantial tally and suggests McConnell knows how to place his horses well and get them ready to run. Diamond Tipp is in capable hands.
The Downpatrick win in July will have meant something. It's a sharp, turning track that suits certain types, and getting a horse to win there suggests McConnell and the team found the right conditions at the right moment. Whether Diamond Tipp can build on that after this lengthy break is the real question — but a horse that finishes in the top three 60% of the time rarely stays out of the picture for long.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downpatrick Undulating |
4 | 1 win, 1 second, 2 thirds | 10 Oct | 25% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
2 | 2 other | 1 Jun | 0% |
| Bellewstown Sharp |
1 | 1 second | 28 Aug | 0% |
| Cork Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 5 Jul | 0% |
| Tramore Sharp |
1 | 1 second | 18 Aug | 0% |
| Cheltenham Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 24 Oct | 0% |