Derham's happy as Harry with superb start to life as a trainer

Novice trainer Harry Derham is dreaming of saddling his first ever runner at Cheltenham Festival next week, a little over three months after sending out his first runner as a trainer.

Upper Lambourn’s Derham, who spent six years as assistant to his uncle Paul Nicholls before taking out his license and going it alone, has managed seven winners from his first 30 runners, an almost 25 per cent strike rate.

Two of those successes have come courtesy of Shared, who won at Wetherby before putting himself in the Cheltenham mix with an impressive triumph at Doncaster last month.

Derham, who won in the saddle at Cheltenham in 2013 when he guided Salubrious to success, admits he’ll need a bit of luck if Shared is to line up in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the famous Festival, but said it’s a sign of his rapid progress as a rookie trainer that he’s even in the conversation.

"He's an intended runner if he gets in the race," Derham said.

"He needs four horses not to run for him to get in, but if he does he'll definitely run.

"He's been an absolute star for me, winning two races for me and his owner so far.

"It'll obviously be a really tough race for him at Cheltenham, but he's earned his right to go and have a go.

"I think the fact we're even talking about this shows how far we've come in such a short space of time."

Derham, who is temporarily based at Frenchman's House while a permanent home up the road in Boxford awaits completion, could hardly have had a better start to life as a full time trainer.

Since winning with his first runner, Seelotmorebusiness, on Boxing Day, the 28-year-old appears to have gone from strength to strength, training six more winners.

He said: "If anything's surprised me, it's been how much I've enjoyed it."

"We're taking it one day at a time but it's been a great start."