Harry Derham celebrates successful Irish raid after win at Fairyhouse

Washington made a trip across the Irish Sea worthwhile when landing the Bar One Racing Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday,

Lambourn trainer Harry Derham’s eight-year-old made a winning stable debut after nearly a year off in October and had long been pencilled in for the Listed event in Ireland.

He was ridden by Paul O’Brien and started as the 4-1 favourite, looking promising from an early stage when travelling well under bottom weight of 10st 4lb.

Before long the victory looked assured and he crossed the line five lengths ahead of Barry Connell’s Enniskerry.

“He has very sporting owners. This race closes early and I thought with the ground in Ireland being quite dry this autumn that it might suit us,” Derham told Racing TV Free Bet Offers.

“We had it in our mind, obviously it was a huge amount of prize-money and I thought the track would really suit him.

“When he won at Chepstow last time out I considered the Greatwood, but I thought the track wouldn’t suit at all.

“This place, a big, galloping track and I thought it would be perfect for him. Very rarely in horse racing a plan comes together, but this one actually did!

“This is the biggest race I’ve won so far in my career and it’s very cool because this horse is a little bit older and has a few miles on the clock.

“To get him back loving it like this and to put in a performance like that was exceedingly satisfying.”

Derham also had runners at Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup Day on Saturday.

In the fourth race at 13:45 Hubrisko made every effort, sticking with the leaders for much of the 2m 4f handicap, but ultimately slipped to a seventh place finish reflective of his 66/1 odds.

There were higher hopes in the next race however, as Derham saw 6/1 shot Queens Gamble seal a well earned second place.

Held up in the pack during the race, it could easily have been more for Derham’s entry in the The Gerry Feilden Handicap Hurdle, finishing 1 ½ lengths behind winner Navajo Indy.