Harry Derham - Horse Racing Trainer

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.

Just Ennemi is back at the yard

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.

Park Talk

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?

Teddy Blue

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?

Washington

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?

Now retired Ascending Lark

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.