Murtagh ponders Diamond raid Connections of Royal Diamond have yet to decide whether to send last year's Irish St Leger winner to Australia for the Emirates Melbourne Cup. Trainer Johnny Murtagh will discuss with owner Andrew Tinkler where to run the seven-year-old next after he finished fifth in Sunday's renewal of the stayers' Classic at the Curragh. Royal Diamond, who was given 54.5kg (8st 8lb) in the race that stops a nation on November 5, had beaten Irish Leger winner Voleuse De Coeurs in his previous race. "He's come out of the race okay, he's a little bit tired," said Murtagh. "I don't think he probably ran up to form. The winner had probably improved a good bit and the ease in the ground would have helped her. "It's tough making the running into a headwind. He got a bit flat-footed then he stayed on in the end. "I haven't spoken to Andrew yet. The weight is the weight, there's nothing you can do about that - that's what he's rated!"
