Diamond Harry (left) was able to resist a late charge from Burton Port

Diamond Harry won the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury as third-placed Denman failed to become the first horse to win the race three times.

Daryl Jacob had the Nick Williams-trained Diamond Harry prominent from the off and Denman battled to stay with him in concession of a mammoth 26lb.

A slow jump from a tiring Denman two out sealed his fate, and it was Burton Port who threw down the challenge.

But 6-1 shot Diamond Harry held on to win by a length and a quarter.

The Tother One, priced at 28-1, clinched fourth place.

These races come around once in a lifetime - I couldn't have asked for a better ride Daryl Jacobs

"That was fantastic and we're thrilled," said Williams moments after Diamond Harry's victory. "We knew he would love the track and thought he had as good a chance as any.

"Coming into the straight I could see that Daryl hadn't moved and he looked confident all the way through the race. I would have been astounded if anything had got past him from three out."

An emotional Jacob added: "I sat on him during the week and I said to Nick I'll never ride a horse like this again.

"These races come around once in a lifetime. I couldn't have asked for a better ride - he jumped, travelled and did everything I wanted him to do. It's a dream to ride a horse like this."

Jacob also praised 2007 and 2009 champion Denman.

"I saw Denman upsides me, but I knew with the weight difference I always had him. But Denman ran a magnificent race and all credit to his team," he stated.

Denman's trainer Paul Nicholls said: "It was a brilliant run, but I have to say massive congratulations to Nick Williams and Daryl Jacob.

"Nick is a great trainer and Daryl is a brilliant young jockey.

"With only 10st I was always a bit nervous of him. But we're thrilled to bits with Denman and he ran a tremendous race, the ground was just a bit lively for him and he was flat out all the way."

Earlier in the day, dual World Hurdle winner Big Buck's claimed the Long Walk Hurdle under champion jockey Tony McCoy.

And champion hurdler Binocular could only finish third behind winner Peddlers Cross and runner-up Starluck in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, which was moved from Newcastle after snow forced the abandonment of their card.

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