Diamond Harry to miss Gold Cup

Painful news for those with ante-post bets on Diamond Harry for the Cheltenham Gold Cup as the eight-year-old has been ruled out of steeplechasing's blue riband event.

Winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November, when he had Denman behind him, the Nick Williams-trained eight-year-old had been as short as 8/1.

Owner Paul Duffy said: "He's got a suspensory ligament problem as I understand it from Nick. It was diagnosed today by the vet, so unfortunately he is out of the Gold Cup and that will be it for the season.

"Nick reckons he will need to rest for around four months given the nature of his situation. It's not as serious as a tendon injury thankfully, but that's the ups and downs of racing I'm afraid.

"We were very hopeful for him in the Gold Cup. He goes well fresh and we felt it was the right thing to do not to run again after the Hennessy."

Meanwhile, Graham Wylie hopes Tidal Bay can be placed in the Gold Cup. The owner was at Doncaster yesterday to see his enigmatic performer work with stablemate Arcalis after racing.

Tidal Bay produced a typically quirky display to finish second in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham last time and the owner said: "I think he has got a good chance of being placed in the Gold Cup, it depends what Tidal Bay turns up.

"He could go off the pace from the back of the pack and run up the hill like a sprinter. It depends how close Brian (Hughes) can get him at the second-last. He's a frustrating horse, but I'm sure he will give us a good day out."

Carruthers is another on course for another crack at the Gold Cup following a pleasing workout. The eight-year-old, bred and part-owned by Lord Oaksey, was fourth in the race last March and is reported to be in tip-top shape by trainer Mark Bradstock.

"He worked on Friday morning and we were really pleased with him," said Bradstock.

"Hopefully, you will see him in the Gold Cup. He ran a great race in it as year. It's drying up very quickly which would not be to our advantage, but we will see how we get on."

Carruthers, who was fourth to Silver By Nature in the Grand National Trial at Haydock on his latest start, is currently as big as 80/1 to upset the big guns on March 18.