Latest News - 8th January 2026
Speaking exclusively to his yard sponsor OLBG.com, National Hunt trainer Harry Derham looks back on a busy December, reflects on the highs and lows of the month, discusses and looks ahead to what’s in store for January onwards.
Q: Well, let's discuss Boxing Day and Klub De Reve?
HD: That was really satisfying, because he's been just a lovely progressive horse, but I hadn't won with him yet, and I was thinking that we were going to Exeter three weeks before that to win, and he bumped into one, but really good performance. Jumped beautifully, quickened better than I was anticipating, actually, which I think was because of the better ground. Paul thought on better ground he would, but I sort of had him down as a two-and-a-half miler, which shows what I know.
Q: The way he hit the line, you think that he could step up in trip time?
HD: Yeah, absolutely he could. So, we're just going to go straight to the Dovecote now.. because it was a class two he gets quite a hefty penalty to just run in a normal novice, course form is relevant. And why not? You know, he's kept progressing really nicely this season. His form all the way through, even when he finished behind Captain Hugo and Sinnatra. That's good form. The third horse has won, his last run I think was pretty good. So we're just going to go straight to the Dovecote and have a good go.
Q: Another winner over the December period was Lario, who I was really impressed with the first time over fences. I thought he jumped beautifully. You must have been pleased with him?
HD: Extremely, and that was the sort of performance that we've been wanting from him for about 18 months, really. You know, when you look back at his hurdle form, bar one run at Ayr last year, he's run very well lots of times, but just without winning, which has been a source of frustration, but jumped beautifully, and he'd scored very well. So you were hoping he was going to.
He could go now at the end of this month, there are a few options for him. You could come back. Paul said he travelled very well, but I think two mile, three, if he sees that out well, and he has that bit of pace at the end, that might be the job for him.
Q: One Horse Town at Cheltenham, I thought, ran with plenty of credit. What was your assessment?
HD: Ran fine, just when he won in November, he beat a horse with a penalty and got to December, and we had a penalty and we got beat. I kept saying, you know, he was doing great, but it was never going to keep going on his run that he was on. I don't think he jumped as well as he might, I don't know why that was. He'll go to trials day, and he could go to the Adonis, then he'd probably go to the Triumph, then probably Aintree like he's a horse who's done fabulously well. I'm not going to go and carry 12 stone in the Fred Winter against horses that will end up being rated higher than him, that are off 125, I don't see the point in that.
So I think we'll probably just run in the Triumph after a couple more runs, maybe one, we'll see; but he's done us proud already, so now's the time for his syndicate to really enjoy themselves.
Q: How's Mossy Fen Road doing?
HD: He's good. He's had a little, not break, but a quieter time since Chepstow, probably for me to calm down more than anything after that. I was obviously very pleased with him, particularly pleased with his jumping. You know, his jumping was just spectacular, which was great. So now I think we'll probably do. You could go to Newbury Super Saturday on the 7th, I think, but more likely Exeter on the 8th, there’s a listed Novice hurdler there of two miles.
I think that's five weeks from the Supreme so I think that works. He's come out of it great. We'll now train him for Exeter or Newbury, probably Exeter, and then hopefully go on to the spring.
Q: It must be so satisfying, because even 18 months ago, he's always been a horse that you've held in a really high regard. Yourself and Ed Bailey (who bought him), have always loved him. So the fact that he's been able to start fulfilling that potential that you always saw him here must be hugely satisfying?
HD: It is very satisfying, now though he has to keep progressing. He's done what we hoped and thought he would. Now we’re trying to take him up a level. That last performance said that I'm ready to go up in class. So, we hope he can. I personally think the way he won his point to point, he could be a better chaser
Q: You could possibly enter him in the Turners over two and a half? Would there be a world that you could run him in that or is it all roads to the supreme?
HD: I'd have to speak to Ian and Claire (Barratt, his owners), maybe, like, if the ground was really dry, I'd consider it. However, Chepstow was good ground, and he showed a lot of pace, I thought. I think we'll probably stick to two miles.
I mean, the times that Chepstow were suggesting that was pretty dry ground, and he did not look to me like all she needed to step up in trip. Do I think he'll stay? Yes, do I need to, at the moment, I don't think I do.
Q: In the same ownership, Cristal d'Estruval, really sad to learn the news that he's out for the rest of the season. What's the kind of extent to his setback?
HD: It's not big. He has to miss six weeks, but of course, six weeks now leaves you not ready for spring festivals. He's just turned five. The conservative approach is to wait until next season, it’s absolutely gutting, because I think the world of him and this year, all right, he achieved nothing at Carlisle, but he beat them by a hurdle, and at Warwick, to me, that was a very good maiden that he won. So, yeah, I'm properly gutted, but he hasn't got a tendon injury.
This is a six week problem, but it's six weeks at the wrong time, so he's just gonna have to wait and we'll have a, in my opinion, a very good horse for next season.
Q: And he's got time on his side, it'll give him time to mature?
HD: “It will and it's not a disaster. It's not a disaster, but when you have horses like him, you want them for the spring. Now, he's not going to be around for this spring, but you hope that by doing the right thing by him now he's only five, hopefully he'll be here for lots of springs to come.
Q: And what have you got to look forward to over the next couple of weeks?
HD: Frost? I think.
I mean, I'm gonna to be honest, by design, this time of year for us has been quieter. I think that lots of national yards do this, don't they? They race hard up until Christmas and give themselves a little breather. And I think that's really sensible.
I don't know why, horses coats in January never look amazing, I think the weather is really cold and they just get a bit low, so it'll be pretty quiet. We've got a few entries on the weekend, Just Ennemi could run.
Q: How's he been since his run?
HD: He's been great and we're going to go back over hurdles this season, just because we're past halfway through the season, and we just think it's the right thing to do. However, it won't be a particularly busy time of year for us. I mean, we'll have a couple of runners next weekend, and then at the back-end of January, we'll get going again, but a lot of the horses in the last couple of weeks have just had a bit of a quieter time. They've still trained, and they've done a little bit, but I think it just does them all a little bit of good to have a period of training where everyone can just take a breath.
Q: I always think there should be a break in January. And I don't know why there isn't. Would you agree? Would that be a sensible idea or not?
HD: I'd be more keen for that to be six weeks in the summer, but I think there always, naturally is like, as in, generally, there's always a bit of frost, there's always water logging. So I think it naturally happens and also I think you have to be careful doing that, because if you have a really heavy ground horse, you know, sometimes January, you might have the only time. But I think basically, a lot of national hunt trainers do the same, don't they, they get to the 1st of January, have a quieter couple of weeks and then drive on again. The idea you hope, don't you that you're giving your horses a little bit of a chance so you can accelerate through the spring?
Latest News - October 29, 2025
Speaking exclusively to his yard sponsor OLBG.com, National Hunt trainer Harry Derham looks back on a busy October, reflects on the highs and lows of the month, discusses the David Maxwell dispersal sale, and looks ahead to what’s in store for November as the jump season steps up.
Q: October - let’s have a look back at the month. The jump season really gets going in October and plenty went on. You had lots of runners; the horses were flying. Were you pleased with how things went for you?
Yeah, I suppose the first thing to touch on, the one massive low, was Balhambar at Chepstow (fatally injured in the Welsh Champion Hurdle). I was gutted for his owners. Such a lovely horse and a real yard favourite. I was gutted for Amy, who rides him every day. That was definitely the low point.
Apart from that, the runners ran incredibly well (5 winners, 2 2nds and a 3rd between the 12th & 22nd October). I think the highlight for me was Dargiannini. After all that time off, he’s ten, and we wondered if we’d bring him back again. We said, let’s just try one more time, and for him to go and win was really satisfying. His owners, Andy & Julie enjoyed it immensely. That was lovely to see.
Q: Did you expect him to put in a performance like that?
He looked like he still had it, but we wondered if he might need the run a bit. He hadn’t been away galloping or anything. The thing about him is he’s got a bit of class. A horse rated 110 would probably have needed the run, but he’s rated 140. He’s a very good horse, and that was lovely.
Q: We also had the David Maxwell dispersal sale in October. That must have been an incredibly nerve-racking time for you. How pleased were you to be able to bring Just Ennemi back to your yard?
Just relieved, to be honest. I don’t think I’ve got many like him in my care. Obviously, I had to pay for him, but I think he’s a very good horse, and one day we’ll be glad we’ve got him.
Q: Was that the sort of price you expected to have to pay?
It was never going to be cheap, but my view was that lots of people pay that kind of money for point-to-pointers all the time. This lad has good French form in the book. I know more about him than I do about any of the point-to-pointers I’ve ever bought.
Look, it’s an awful lot of money, but I thought it was probably about right.
Q: Were there any others that caught your eye at the dispersal sale, or was your focus solely on Just Ennemi?
I’d have loved to keep the others I had, but you have to be realistic, and you have to pay for them. Just Ennemi was the one I’d have been absolutely devastated to lose, so yeah, he was the main focus.
Q: Looking ahead to November, racing really notches up a gear. There’s plenty to look forward to and lots of quality races. Any bigger targets for the team? I know you like to send a few to the Coral Gold Cup meeting at Newbury.
The first exciting one would be One Horse Town, who’ll run in the Triumph Trial at Cheltenham, the juvenile Grade 2 worth £80,000. He’s done really well this season so far. No idea how good he is. He might not be much better than what he’s shown, but for an early-season juvenile, he’s pretty rock solid. He jumps well, settles, and stays well, so he’ll go there. That’ll be exciting.
I’m looking forward to the big meeting at Newbury at the end of November. Viyanni hopefully for the OLBG Racing Club in the Gerry Fielden.
Hopefully, we can run a nice novice in the two-mile and two-and-a-half-mile hurdles. I like going to Newbury, it’s not too far.
Q: Yeah, and you’ve got a bit of previous in the Gerry Feilden?
Yeah, not happy though, I keep getting beaten in it. Hopefully, Viyanni will go one better. That would be nice.
Q: Park Talk - how’s he come on since his first run? I think you’ve got him entered up in a few different places.
Yeah, he goes to Stratford on Thursday. I was disappointed with him the first time out, he wasn’t as fit as I’d expected. He’ll need to step forward a lot from that, but I think he can. He’s a very good jumper. It might be that we need to go chasing sooner rather than later, but he’ll go there, and I hope he can run much better.
Q: Cueros - he’s got unbelievable form in Jersey; he’s won the Jersey Derby - any update there?
Yeah, he’s a classic winner in Jersey, right. He’s taken to jumping well, obviously it’s different on the track, but he’s a lovely, genuine horse. He’ll enjoy quick ground, has a quick-ground action, so I’m hopeful of a good run. (Newcastle Wed 29 October)
Q: Teddy Blue will make his seasonal return this week. Where are you planning to take him?
Ascot (Saturday 1st Nov) has been the plan all along. We put him in at Wetherby just in case, but we’ll go to Ascot. He’s in fantastic form. How’s he going to run? No idea, it’s Teddy Blue. But he’s in really good shape.
Q: And Washington entered at Ascot on Saturday. He won well on his seasonal debut at Chepstow, went up four pounds for that performance and it looks like another nice opportunity for him?
It’ll be tougher, but we haven’t raced him much since we’ve had him. He’s only had five starts in quite a long time. He’s nine now, the ground is suitable, and in the depths of winter he can’t race because it’s too soft for him. So let’s roll the dice.
He’s got a very good record fresh. I’m just conscious it was only three weeks ago since he ran last, but he seems really well at home. The ground will suit, let’s go and have a go. He’s basically on a career-high mark now, which doesn’t make life easier, but he’s been a wonderful horse for us and hopefully he’ll run another good race.
Q: Cave Bridge made a really lovely start to his career with you at Carlisle. I’m not sure it was the deepest of races, but he progressed with his jumping as the race went on and showed a lovely attitude?
Yeah, it was embarrassing at first. He jumped like he’d never seen a fence before. He’d schooled really well before and since, which is even more annoying. But Carlisle suited him. He galloped up the home straight well. He could go to Wetherby or Carlisle again, we haven’t got that far yet.
He’s a nice horse, though. As you rightly said, the race probably wasn’t worth much, and he could run much better and still get beaten next time under a penalty. But he’s nice. He’ll end up being a chaser.
Q: So, sad news that Ascending Lark has been retired to stud. She’s set to begin a new career as a broodmare after a setback, but she’s given you so many joyful days on the track, winning six races in a row, which is rare these days. You must look back on her career with a lot of fondness?
I’m still gutted, to be honest. She had some heat in her tendon last week on her off-fore. She’d need a year off now and would be nine before running again. She’s got a very good pedigree and she’s a black-type winner.
We all felt there wasn’t much to gain by bringing her back, so she’ll go back to Ireland with the Lalor family and be put in foal.
She was absolutely brilliant. The first season I had her, I couldn’t get her right at all, then she came good, and last season she was magnificent. The only thing that saddens me is I don’t think we saw the best of her yet.
When she won at Punchestown, she came from miles back with her ears pricked, and you just wonder how much more was there. But she did us proud. She’ll have a lovely life now in Ireland, and hopefully one day I might train one of her offspring.
Background
Harry Derham began his career as a jockey in the horse racing industry, spending three years in the saddle and securing 50 wins. One of his notable achievements during this time was a victory at the Cheltenham Festival in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle in 2013 aboard the horse Salubrious.
Despite his success as a jockey, Harry realised his true passion lay not in racing from the saddle but in training racehorses. This realisation led him to retrain at Paul Nicholls' renowned stable.
🏇 From Jockey to Trainer: Harry Derham's Winning Journey! 🏆
At Nicholls' Ditcheat stable, Harry quickly became an integral part of the team, initially taking on the role of Pupil Assistant and later advancing to Assistant Trainer. Over six years in this role, Harry worked tirelessly alongside Paul Nicholls, contributing to the stable's impressive achievements, including winning the trainers' championship three times and finishing as runner-up on three occasions.
Harry's relentless work ethic, drive to succeed, and expanding knowledge of racehorses have laid a strong foundation for his training pursuits.
Harry Derham Racing
Harry Derham Racing was established with a clear mission: to compete in top National Hunt races while offering horse owners a remarkable experience on and off the racecourse. Harry's dedication and the high standards he set during his time with Paul Nicholls are evident in every aspect of his business.
The training facility focuses on developing top-quality racehorses and maintaining excellent communication with owners.
Business Set-up
The success of Harry Derham Racing is supported by a team that shares Harry's ambition and determination to excel. The team is comprised of talented and motivated individuals who are aligned with Harry's goals. They are committed to preparing horses in the yard and under their care for success and ensuring owners are well-informed and involved in the training process.
Harry's training techniques are rooted in his years of experience, emphasising a rigorous regimen tailored to each horse's needs to maximise performance and potential.
References and Further Reading
If you would like to know ore about Harry Derham Racing, the Olbg Racing club and more, here are some link and information you may find interesting
Newbury Racecourse - OLBG Owners Club
