Derham in dreamland as first season as full time trainer ends with 14 winners

When Harry Derham headed to Huntingdon on Boxing Day, the novice Lambourn handler probably couldn’t have imagined the next five months would go quite so well.

Hours later the 28-year-old, who took out his trainer's license following six years as assistant to Paul Nicholls, watched his first ever runner become his first ever winner when Seelotmorebusiness finished 12 lengths clear of his nearest challenger in Cambridgeshire.

Since then, Derham has saddled another 13 winners at a 25% strike rate – when including placed finishers, his success rate increases to well over 50%.

And the warm, friendly and engaging trainer admits his success this season has exceeded even his most optimistic expectations.

“It went about as well as I could’ve dreamt,” he said.

“Of course, you plan for success and you hope for it, but there’s no guarantee.

“Around Christmas time when we started having runners, we thought we had some capable of winning.

“Until you actually race a few of them, it’s quite difficult to tell.

“Seelotmorebusiness set the tone and the rest of the horses followed suit.

“The horses have done me really proud this season.”

On top of Seelotmorebusiness landing Derham his maiden winner at the first time of asking, the last five months have been full of memorable moments.

Derham’s grandfather, Brian, was reduced to tears when Beyond Redemption, who he part-owns and his grandson trains, won on his first time out for his new team at Wincanton.

Derham said: “That was special, grandad and his mates had a great time that day.

“It’s one we’ll all remember for a long time.”

Derham first made headlines as a 13-year-old when he was caught on camera cheering on Big Buck’s as the French star won at Cheltenham for mentor Paul Nicholls in 2009 – and he had the chance to handle a Cheltenham runner of his own in March when Shared made the cut for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the famous Festival.

“Shared’s been a lovely little horse for me,” Derham said.

“He’s a real fighter and a fantastic character.

“I was so proud to get to Cheltenham in my first season, a lot has changed since I was 13.”

Derham’s struck up a lucrative relationship with Paul O’Brien, with the jockey enjoying his most successful season by some distance since the two linked up in Lambourn.

He said: “Paul’s been superb, it’s no exaggeration to say this has been a breakthrough season for him.

“A couple of people have said to me he’s lucky to have teamed up with me – I’m just as lucky.

“His best ever seasonal tally was 14 and this season he rode 37 winners, he’s very talented and really likeable.”

Derham’s set to move from his base in Lambourn to a new permanent home in Boxford this summer, where he hopes to upscale and celebrate even more winners next season.

“We’re on a recruitment drive for humans and horses at the moment,” he said.

“I’m off to the Doncaster sales next week.

“It hasn’t all been easy, but pressure is a privilege and I love what I do.

“We’re hoping we can have more success out of the new yard next season.”