The five day Punchestown Festival is set to begin this week and Britain’s Harry Derham is taking over a strong team.
The Newbury based yard have failed to strike at either of Cheltenham or Aintree. However, Derham struck with Ascending Lack at Punchestown last season and will be hoping to have another successful end to the season.
Speaking to the Racing Post, Derham said: “The three big spring festivals are Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown, and that’s where you want runners. So far, I’ve only had a winner at the latter. It’s a fantastic track, they look after you well, and it’s nice ground. We’re taking over a nice team.”
The team will be spearheaded by the unbeaten Le Frimeur, who holds two Grade 1 entries. The son of Gemix was a £50,000 buy as a store and won his point-to-point by seven lengths. He was well-backed for his bumper in November, and completed a hat-trick when beating a 132-rated horse on hurdling debut.
The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede owned gelding is in the ‘could be anything’ category, and Derham is keen to try his in this company. “I think he’s smart” continued Derham. “But stepping up to Grade 1 company this early in his life will be tough against horses with more experience, and that’s the key – he’s short of experience. But he’s got a good engine.”
One Horse Town bidding to return to winning ways
In the Grade 1 Champion Four Year Old Hurdle, the formerly progressive One Horse Town will look to return to his earlier form. The son of Threat was two from two after winning the Grade 2 Triumph Trial, but is 0-4 since.
“One Horse Town wasn’t good enough at Cheltenham” said Derham. “And we’re not expecting him to go and win at Punchestown. But he’s had a great season and we said we’d end up here. We freshened him up after his last run, and he seems in good form. He deserves to take his chance.”
Derham’s week begins on Tuesday with Washington in the Listed Handicap Hurdle, which the trainer won last season. Having been beaten a combined 132 lengths in his last four starts, requiring a drastic return to form.
It’s been another step in the right direction for the young trainer. He has won a career best of over £850,000 in prize money this campaign. However, he is not resting on his laurels. “I’m pleased, but I always feel there’s room for improvement” remarked Derham. “There’s a lot of stuff I want to do better, but we were well up on prize-money.
“We also had our first Graded winners, which is what I wanted to do. I wanted to compete in better races, and we’ve done that, but I want to keep building and doing better.”