Harry Derham Weekly Update: Newbury Double, Punchestown Plans & Stable Runners

Stable Winners This Week

Derham’s yard has been in strong form, landing multiple winners:

The highlight came from Spirou’s 20/1 success, a remarkable return after a long absence, while Le Frimeur continues to look like a smart novice heading towards bigger targets.

Exclusive Interview: Harry Derham on Newbury, Punchestown & Stable Plans

Q:  Getting a double at your local track, Newbury, on 20th March, with both Le Frimeur and Spirou winning, must have been a good day?

HD: Enormously satisfying for different reasons. Obviously, I've not felt under any pressure from his owners, but if you have what you think is a smart young horse, you want to get it right with them. And very frustrating that he picked up an injury after Chepstow, but you know, he's done well for that bit of time he's had. And I thought he won really well, I was really impressed with him. JJ didn't want to get to the front too early. He took a minute to get going and then the moment he got to the front, he idled. I was chuffed to bits, absolutely chuffed to bits. And then Spirou has been, he broke down sort of six weeks after we got him, which was really, really deflating. Brought him back in this summer, it was going along nicely, and then got to the Autumn and had a little stress injury just because he hadn't been in training for so long. But I always thought he was all right, you know, I just was not expecting masses from him because he hadn't run for so long. But really, really impressed with him, you know, he quickened well and will improve so much for that run just because he hasn't run for so long. So yeah, it was a really good day.

Q: How remarkable was Spirou’s performance at Newbury (20th March) after over 800 days off?

HD: Yeah, it was a good performance. I mean, you know, it wasn't a wildly strong race, but it was a decent race. And as he galloped down to the last I thought, ‘oh, you're going to be third’. What a brilliant run, you know, I would have been so pleased with it, but to quicken up like he did tells me, after all that time off, he must be a nice horse. Paul got a very good feel off it. You know, I know he's off at a modest mark at the moment, but I'm looking at him as a chaser for next season. I'm thinking about running him again, but he's had a very quiet time since his run. He's been fine, but I'm not looking to rush back.

Q: So we just kind of take a view of the next week (w/c 30th March) or so, see how he goes?

HD: Yeah, I mean there's a race the second last day of the season at Chepstow he could run in, and there's a 0-120 at Punchestown he could run in. He only went up two pounds to a mark of 119, which I think is reasonable. So there's a 0-120 there he could run in or he might not run at all. You know, no pressure from his owners. We'll just see how he is over the next fortnight and come up with a plan there.

Q: Is Le Frimeur Punchestown bound?

HD: Punchestown bound, yeah. He will be entered in the grade one over two and a half and three miles. I mean, he has been given a mark of 128, but you can't run in a nice handicap as he's only had two runs. So he'll run in one of the grade one novices, either over two and a half or three. Have to speak to his team about that.

Q: What’s your thinking on the trip?

HD: JJ got off and said he'll stay. He might want three. I think if the ground was very, very testing, two and a half would be fine. But if it was nice spring ground, I would absolutely see the logic in three miles. But we'll give ourselves both options.

Q: How exciting is it to have a horse in those colours heading to Punchestown?

HD:  Simon and Isaac go racing Punchestown week, so that is obviously great that hopefully we can get there in one piece. And I think he's a smart horse. I don't think he'd just be a runner, you know. I know he's 128 and he's not achieved masses yet, but I think the best is very much yet to come with him.

Q: What did you make of Lover Desbois’ recent run at Newbury (21st March)?

HD: Very, very proud of him. We were worried on the day that with the ground going dry, the maturity and experience that those five year olds have, you know, on good ground, it just doesn't tell us much because it doesn't become as much about stamina and strength, it becomes more of a speed test. And just in the end he was beaten by three four year olds that he gave weight to, all of them. So I'm not beaten. I was immensely proud of his run. I thought he travelled like a really good horse in it, you know, he travelled through the race very well.  I gave Paul the instructions of not being too far behind because I wanted him to get a smooth run in the race. Now Paul after was thinking that maybe he could have been more patient, but it was just the way we wanted to ride the race. But I thought that was a big performance. And if he's okay he'll go to Punchestown for the winners one that I ran Queensbury Boy in two years ago to finish second.

Q: Was Escapeandevade back on track at Newbury (21st March)?

HD: Yeah, I mean he ran his usual tough race. I was extremely pleased with him. Me and the owner had a conversation in the morning of, ‘oh god, he's probably going to get beaten by a horse that's just quicker than him on good ground’, and that's exactly what happened. But he ran a really, really good race. No excuses, no complaints at all. Jumped brilliantly. Just wasn't good enough. But again he will now go for the Black Hills, which is a two mile chase at Punchestown.

Q: Will Pure Carbon run at Ascot?

HD: He is an intended runner, yeah. Good prize money there, Ascot, ground I think that he will love. You know, he ran very well last time out, he just bumped into one, no complaints there at all. But I think that he's worth his shot in a race like this on decent ground. He'll probably have one more run after that if he's okay at Ayr in a novice handicap chase later in the season. But, you know, this is a good prize fund. There's not going to be more than eight runners, I don't think. And he loves good ground off a sort of light weight. I think he's well worth his chance.

Q: Is Noahsgreatrainbow going to run on Sunday? How has he been since Doncaster?

HD: He's been in good nick since Doncaster. I was disappointed with him at Doncaster, but I've worked quite hard on his fitness since that because I just thought that going to the second last I thought he was going to win, and then he faded quite tamely. And I wonder whether I didn't have him as fit as I thought I did. So I've worked quite hard on that. He's in really good shape, looks well. I think he's got a good chance.

Q: Will the step up in trip suit him?

HD: I think he'll stay and stay well. I was initially quite disappointed with him at Doncaster, but I think I've got him a lot fitter now, and I hope that will help.

Q: What did you think of Dramatic Encore’s run?

HD: Yeah, won well at Plumpton, probably took advantage of a race that broke up a little bit, but it was a good performance over a trip that was too short for her. She was in a mares race on Saturday (21st), but we're actually just going to roll the dice. Ascot is worth 10 grand more and I didn't think there was much in the races. She was going to have to carry top weight at Uttoxeter and she'll carry a low weight here. I think the race will cut up a little bit on dry ground. We're just going to take our chance. You know, she's by no means a certainty, but I think she's a top three prospect in the race. And dry ground won't be a problem for her. Two miles five will definitely not be a problem for her. We're just going to go and have a go. Great.

Q: Any updates ahead of Aintree?

HD: We’ve decided that Jackie Hobbs is going to go to Fairyhouse. Great. We've sort of concluded that there are very, very few grade one mares novice hurdles. The chance for them to run in those types of races are rare. You know, she's come through Cheltenham pretty well. I'm really happy with her. So we're going to let her take her chance. I mean, it's one of those races. You know, she's 14 to one, 14 to one shots win every day. Is she the most likely winner of the race? No, but it wouldn't be a total shock. Two and a half miles is going to improve her. She ran bloody well at Cheltenham, which I didn't think was remotely a fluke, so we're just going to go and roll the dice.

Q: Any update on Mossy Fen Road?

HD: No, none. He's back cantering, he's fine, looks well. I'm happy with how he is, but I won't know until he starts doing more serious work as to whether I'm going to take him there or not.

Upcoming Entries to Watch

Derham’s yard has a busy week ahead with current entries below, although that is subject to change:

• Siorai – Stratford (Tomorrow 1:40)
• Kiwi Rush – Ascot (Sunday 1:55 & 4:15)
• Noahsgreatrainbow – Ascot (Sunday 2:30)
• Gallivanted – Ascot (Sunday 3:05)
• Pure Carbon – Ascot (Sunday 3:40)
• Crystello – Ascot (Sunday 4:15)
• Dramatic Encore – Ascot (Sunday 5:25)
• Filibustering – Ludlow (Mon)
• Belaya River – Sedgefield (Wed)
• Ignore The Door – Wincanton (Wed)
• Lake Tiberias – Wincanton (Wed)

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