Cambridgeshire looking good

Group Two-placed in his pomp, Dinkum Diamond bids for his first win in nearly two years when he takes his chance the Tote Irish Cambridgeshire at the Curragh on Sunday.

That big day came in his juvenile campaign, for Henry Candy in the 2010 Flying Childers at Doncaster.

Now as a nine-year-old Dinkum Diamond has been dismissed as an outsider in ante-post lists for the big-money mile contest at Headquarters. Of course, the son of Aussie Rules has never won over this far.

However, trainer Andy Slattery has belief in his charge, and the County Tipperary handler reasoned: "He had a good run the last day in a slow-run race and I think a better gallop will suit him on Sunday.

"He'll hopefully get more cover, too."

He added: "I'm very happy with him overall. I think he has a good each-way chance if things go right. He should still be competitive in handicaps.

"He is used to this sort of contest - it's just the type of race that could go his way. Things have to go right, but he's in great form and he's really coming to himself now.

"The winner the last day (Vincy) just got first run on him.

"It's a good race but I just think those big handicaps suit a horse like him. Hopefully Killian (Leonard) will be able to get plenty of cover, cod him along and weave through. Basically ride him for a bit of luck.

"I'd say the draw (seventeen) is pretty good - he'll be running straight from the elbow.

"Ground makes no difference to him and it's a race I've had my eye on for a while for him. It took us a while to get to know him and get around him a bit. An end-to-end mile should suit him now."

Dermot Weld, Ger Lyons, Sheila Lavery, Damian English and Michael Halford are numerically strong with dual representation.

Another like Slattery, though, is Eddie Lynam, and he is also hopeful his sole contender, Onlyhuman (Wayne Lordan), will represent him well.

"He seems in good form - he's training well - and he's got an OK draw (stall eight)," said Lynam.

"It's a wide-open handicap but he has his chance.

"After winning his maiden he was very green the next day in the junction (Tipperary) because he didn't really have anything to do in Gowran (when winning).

"It was another learning experience for him, and he ran OK the last day in Roscommon but it was very, very soft ground and it was a mile and a quarter.

"I don't think it'll be any harm coming back to a mile with him as he's a full-brother to Music Box.

"I'll put it this way, if you were doing a Jackpot you wouldn't be leaving him out but you wouldn't be having your pension on him either.

"He's a fine, big horse - if he was a bloke in a nightclub he wouldn't be standing on his own!"

Among the many others to consider in the 100,000 euro event, British raiders Hibou, Dream Walker and Sinfonietta are sure to feature on many a shortlist.