Harry Derham Stable Tour: 2026/27 Jumps Season Preview

Reflections On A Record Prize Money Season

With record breaking prize money and a first Grade 1 success courtesy of Le Frimeur at the Punchestown Festival, Harry looks back on the 25/26 season as a whole - 

"Obviously I had some really, really good days. I think last season will always feel like a season where I could have done a good bit better. Clearly the highlight was the graded wins through the season, starting with Teddy Blue, One Horse Town (below) and Klub De Reve, and then Le Frimeur winning a Grade One in the spring was what you dream of. But I do feel like domestically there were plenty of horses I could have done better with, and I took a lot of learnings from last season. I think since I started training, I probably learnt the most last season."

Why is that Harry? ... Is that because you're learning and settling into the routine here at Upper Farm?

"Yeah, I think there's definitely an element of that. We added a new gallop last year, and I think I used that slightly too much last autumn, so the horses were probably a bit too forward through the autumn. October and November last year were really, really good, and as a result of that, well, there's no probably about it, I wasn't as strong in the spring as I'd have liked to be. But the idea of training is that you're learning and trying to get better all the time. Don't get me wrong, I had some wonderful days. Prize money was higher than the year before, which was obviously great, and we set out last season to try and win some better quality races, and we did. But I do feel like I probably learnt more than I achieved last year, and hopefully I can put that into practice this year."

 Le Frimeur (below), a Grade One winner at Punchestown last season and still very unexposed, having only had three starts. How do you look back on his campaign last season?

"Obviously, to win a Grade 1 was absolutely amazing. Chepstow was frustrating. I remember David Minton was there with Daryl Jacob, and he won, but I've never been so disappointed by a winner. I'll be honest, I didn't think he'd come off the bridle, and he just made a little bit of hard work of it. He didn't jump great, and I thought, this is not what I was fully expecting. He came back the day after and he was slightly lame behind, so he must have picked up an injury in the race. He just got a little hot spot on his tibia, so then we had to give him plenty of time. 

I actually think that time was the making of him, because he was very raw. Pat Doyle, who trained him in Ireland, said he's a raw horse who'll want some time, and I think that quiet winter really helped him. Then Newbury was just a nice run. We thought he'd do what he did that day, but he wasn't fully wound up by any means. I then said to Anthony and the Double Green team that if we could get some good, proper training into him ahead of Punchestown, we'd go there as a runner. I was very fortunate that I wasn't under masses of pressure to run him there. It was just a case of, if we think he's good enough to go, then let's take him. 

JJ (Slevin) was sure that three miles was the right thing to do. In the last three weeks before Punchestown he just blossomed, and his work was very good before that. He's clearly a very exciting horse. To win a Grade 1 on your third ever start in that kind of company was, for me, very impressive. To me, the only reason JJ was asking him at the end was to try and get him organised. He was a bit green under pressure and he lugged left. But what I loved about it was the last 100 yards, when he did change legs and get himself balanced. He really galloped away from a very, very good mare, albeit at the end of a long season, but she had a good level of form all year. So look, he's obviously a hugely exciting horse."

Looking Ahead To The 2026/27 Season

So Harry, you're going a little bit more slowly this season. Obviously it's been an incredibly dry period, so you're just not going to have them ready so quickly?

"Yeah, definitely an element of that. Clearly this year we're guided by the weather, but through the summer, when I sat down to review everything and work out what I could do better, it was certainly in my head that I wanted to have a stronger spring. So stood here now, compared to this time last year, the horses have a lot fewer miles on their legs in terms of their training, which is intentional. I'm really looking forward to this year. As I just said, we're guided by the weather. I think October will be pretty quiet, and hopefully we'll build up until Christmas. But I'm feeling optimistic about this season. We have some lovely horses, and I think I can put my learnings from last year into practice. Clearly, in five years' time you're still going to be working things out about the game, I understand that, but I think I've got a good block of experience underneath me now, and I'm optimistic for this season."

Do you sit down during the summer months and work out specific targets that you want to reach throughout the season? ... How does that work?

"Yeah, I do, absolutely. Clearly the main target, as it always has been, is trying to get the best out of each and every horse you have in your care. That might be winning a Class 5 at a small country track on a weekday, or it might be trying to win a Grade 1, so you're governed by the horses that you train. But I do try to work out specific programmes for those horses, and on a broader scale, the targets we're trying to achieve as a yard. I've said it a couple of times, but I'd love this year to break through the million pound prize money bracket with my horses. There's been steady progress in my first three full seasons, and lots will need to go right for that to happen, but I do think it's achievable, so that will be one of the big ones. The other one is that I'd love to train 60 winners in a season. I haven't done that yet, but the longer this dry spell goes on, the more difficult that becomes, because realistically, with the number of horses you have to run, you can only run so many in a period of time. You obviously can't over race each horse, because their specific programme is much more important than the broader picture. So I do have some targets, but the first one is always to get the best out of the horses in your care."

£851,000 won in prize money last season. Only £150,000 more, that seems very attainable?

"Yeah, and there was also the £100,000 we won at Punchestown at the end of the season. If you add that, then you're thinking there's a group of horses there that could do it. Clearly that is governed by trying to win better races, and that's what we're trying to do. I think I've got some horses here this year that could."

Settle in and enjoy Harry’s stable tour — here are the horses for your notebook!

Hurdlers

LE FRIMEUR

Five-year-old gelding. Gemix (sire) × Ty Perrine (dam)
Owner: Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
Unbeaten three-time hurdle winner including a Grade 1 Novice at the Punchestown Festival.

Staying Over Hurdles this season - "He did okay over the summer. It wasn't a great summer. He obviously had a hard race at the end of the season, and it's not been brilliant grass all summer, really. So he did all right. He looks a lot better now. I think he's the type of horse, and Pat Doyle actually said this to me, who does better for a bit of training when he's got condition on. It wasn't a decision I made solely. Fortunately, with the ownership group he's got, Anthony Bromley is their racing manager and he's probably forgotten more about this type of thing than I know. We just felt that he is only five, and would another season of hurdling hurt him? We didn't think so. If it doesn't quite work out how we want or hope, then this time next year he could go chasing as a six year old, and that is not by any means too old. So we just felt it would do him the world of good to have another year of racing experience under his belt. He's going to start in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury at the end of November, and you'd love to try and get to a Stayers' Hurdle. That would be the aim this season. He's rated 150 now. I don't ever say that any of those championship divisions are weak, because I always smile when people say that. I think, well, try and win them. They're such tough races. But I do think that division is open and there is space for some new horses to come into it, because some of those horses that have been fantastic over the last few years are getting older. So we'll start at Newbury and we'll see where that takes us."

MOSSY FEN ROAD

Six-year-old gelding. Flemensfirth x Molly Duffy 
Barratt Racing 
Impressive winner on debut in a NHF race at Wetherby in Feb 2025, two-time Novice Hurdle winner last season.

He was scratched a few days before he was meant to run in the Supreme at Cheltenham, which was incredibly frustrating for Harry and the team. You must be very much looking forward to his season ahead, though? - "I am. I was more frustrated for Ian and Claire, his owners, to be honest. We've thought a lot of him for some time, and it's just one of those things. He entrapped his epiglottis on the morning of confirmation, so at least he didn't do it two days before. These things happen. He's absolutely perfect now. We think the most likely course of action with him is to run in a good handicap hurdle, and that will tell us whether we stay hurdling or go chasing. That performance at Chepstow was obviously very taking, and not a surprise either. We think he's a horse of great quality, so the Gerry Feilden or the Greatwood would be the two options for him. The Greatwood is probably the preference, so long as the ground is slow. I think he can act on decent ground, but I think it's better for him to run on slow ground. We think that if we run in a good handicap hurdle, that will tell us whether we've got any business being in a conditions hurdle, and if not, he can run in a beginners' chase at Christmas. He's a very talented horse, a very talented horse. I worry a little bit whether he needs things to go his own way. But having said that, I know Paul thinks an awful lot of him, as do I. He has a lot of pace and I'm looking forward to him. Again, I think the best is in front of him. We've minded him and we've been careful with him, and I'm really looking forward to this season with him."

The Greatwood Hurdle is a race you know well? - "I keep telling Paul it takes a hell of a jockey to win the Greatwood, but I think his face says, well, you've won it, so it can't be too hard!"

JACKIE HOBBS

Six-year-old mare. Jack Hobbs x Miss Milborne 
Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates
Point-to-point winner, two time winner of NHF races, won twice over hurdles last season and finished 5th at the Cheltenham Festival.

Jackie Hobbs was another mare who had a fabulous time of things last season. She was fifth at Cheltenham in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle, and you must have been extremely proud of what she achieved? - "I was pleased with her. She's a good mare. I think we're going to go up in trip this year. Harry Skelton rode her at Warwick one day when Paul was at Doncaster, and he felt that three miles could bring about a good bit of improvement. If you look at her point to point, Holloway Queen was in second, and she's a very, very good stayer, isn't she? So there's a Mares' Listed hurdle at Doncaster in December, and she could have a prep run for that somewhere like Kempton three weeks before. I'd love to get black type with her. She's a four time winner already, but black type for a mare like her is important. At some stage there's an option of going chasing, but for the time being Noel and his team want to stay over hurdles, which I can understand. Hopefully there's a bit more progression in her up in trip."

Have you given her a school over fences? - "No, she hasn't schooled over fences. She's only been back with us three weeks or so. But she is a point to point winner, and I think she could jump fences fine. Paul always said she has enough scope to do it. It's just the programme. There's a good mares' programme, but there aren't loads of races. Could she have a decent chance of getting a bit of black type over hurdles at a longer trip? I think she could, so we're going to try that. She could do both and mix and match a little bit. She's a good, solid mare. Stepping up in trip will need to improve her to bring about black type, but I think it could do."

VIYANNI

Five-year-old gelding. Almanzor x Viyana 
OLBG Racing Club 
Aga Khan bred, bought privately from the Jimmy Murtagh stable for the OLBG Racing Club which is run to support Harry Derham Racing. Two-time hurdle winner and a six length third to Grade 1 winner Lulamba and Imperial Cup winner Mondo Man from three starts in Juvenile campaign. Lightly raced since, unexposed as a hurdler and remains an exciting prospect.

"I still think we've not nearly seen the best of him, to be honest. I think he'll end up being a stayer. The plan is a bit of Flat racing to get his fitness levels back up. He's just not been the easiest horse to get fit, so we'll probably have a couple of runs on the Flat (reappeared at Salisbury in early October), and then I'll want to go up in trip over hurdles. He could start at the November meeting at Cheltenham over two and a half miles. I think that would suit well. He's a horse with a big engine. It just hasn't all fallen into place. What's been frustrating about him is that he's missed so much time. It's never been a massive issue. He's just had little problems and little niggles. Lots of those Flat horses aren't over big, but he's actually quite a big boy, and I wonder whether he's just needed all that time. I think he's going to stay well. He's from a great Aga Khan staying pedigree, and I think we'll probably end up over three miles. He wants nice ground. I wouldn't want to run him on heavy ground. I don't know quite where he fits in yet or where he'll end up, but I do think that over staying distances he's unexposed, and I think there's a lot more in front of him than there is behind."

JUST ENNEMI

Six-year-old gelding. Kamsin x Aubane
Just Ennemi Partnership 
Two-time hurdle winner in France, lightly raced and remains with potential.

Just Ennemi was a horse that was previously in the yard with David Maxwell. He obviously went to the David Maxwell dispersal sale, and you were really keen to buy him back, which you achieved. It didn't quite go to plan at the back end of last season. How has he been over the summer? Have you ever got to the bottom of what happened with him last year?

"I think so. I think lots of small things conspired against him. He was with us, then he went back to Noel's (Fehily), and he went to the sales. Then we had him and rushed him forward, and it transpired he was sick after Haydock. It was just unsatisfactory. He's a horse I still have a lot of faith in, to be honest with you. I know he only finished fourth at Ayr at the end of the season, but from the position we rode him from, I actually thought he ran pretty well. Because it had been such a disaster of a year, I just said to Paul, try and get him travelling and finish off his race. From where he was, he was never going to be able to win, but he did actually run home pretty well that day. He loved the ground, and I think three miles is without question his trip. If you look at his family, they're all really good stayers. 

So we're going to stick over hurdles this season, just because we want to get a season of racing into him. I find that lots of the time those three mile handicap hurdles are contested by similar horses that are potentially a bit more exposed. I think he's well treated, and I think he could be unexposed. I learnt plenty about him in the spring. I'm not going to overtrain him before his first run, and he'll need his first run, but I do think he can mix it in some of those better handicap hurdles this season over a trip on some slower ground. I hope he can repay some of the faith we've got in him, because I'm sure there's a talented horse there. We just haven't fully seen it yet. But I think I understand him better now than I ever have done before, and I think we've ironed out a few smaller management things with him. He looks particularly well this autumn. He's in really good shape, and I'm hopeful that in three mile hurdling he can do well."

CAVE BRIDGE

Six-year-old gelding. Court Cave x Muckle Flugga
D&D Armstrong Ltd
Unbeaten over hurdles and lightly raced winning both starts in novice company last season, exciting prospect.

Cave Bridge is a very exciting horse going into this season. What can you tell us about him and the plans you have for his campaign?

"I think his future will eventually lie over fences. Dave and Donna, his owners, are quite keen to stay over hurdles for the time being, and I can totally see why, because he's still pretty unexposed. He's a big, fine, galloping horse. He's won over two miles twice, but that's not his trip. I think he will be better up in trip. 

Will he go chasing, or will he stay hurdling all of this season? I'm not sure yet. That's not a decision that's been made. He'll definitely start over hurdles, I suspect. Again, he's just a horse who has any amount of improvement in him. He's unbeaten, and I'm convinced that two and a half miles will bring out more improvement once he learns to race properly. As I say, whatever he achieves over hurdles, I'm sure he'll be a better chaser, because he's a big, imposing horse who only just gives you as much as you need. So I hope there's plenty more to come from him. I don't think he wants desperate ground. He obviously wants safe ground, but he's one I'm looking forward to running."

WESTERN MONKEY

Seven-year-old gelding. Westerner x Madame Trigger
The Wildmoor Racing Partnership 
Won only start over hurdles last season, remains an unexposed staying prospect.

Western Monkey is another horse of yours to follow for this season. He ran just the once for you last campaign and really impressed at Haydock. Were you expecting him to put in a performance like that first time up?

"Not at all, not at all. During the race I was thinking, this is a complete disaster. He was trying to run out and jumping badly, and only when he got going over the last three did he jump really well and look impressive. We gave him a bit of time after that race, and he was coming back into training well when he got really bad sore shins, which for a horse of his age was unusual. But he hadn't had much training, and I'm told he was very immature as a young horse. So we actually just left him alone and said that hopefully he'd come back a stronger, more complete horse this year, and he absolutely has. 

Last year the performance was a surprise. This year you can very much see the engine much more. I'm hoping that's just because he's had that time and his body is in a much better place now. So I'm wondering, could he be a Pertemps horse? Maybe. He needs some experience, but he's been given a rating of 125 after one run, which is a decent rating. I think he's a totally unexposed horse, and he stays very well. Physically he's a big, imposing horse now, so it's hard to know how good he is. 125 might have him overestimated, but at the same time, the way he won at Haydock."

You'd think there's plenty more to come, considering how inexperienced he was?

"Exactly, and he did so much wrong that day. Paul said he had a dead left arm for about a week after that race, because he was hanging. So if he can learn to race, well, he's just going to have to have some racing. I'm not going to be afraid to get him out there this autumn and get a bit of racing into him, but I'm particularly pleased with what I've seen from him this autumn. He could start in an introductory hurdle, which I'd like to do. There's one over two miles five in early November, and I'd love to start him there, but if the ground isn't right, then he'll just have to go into a handicap and have a bit of racing to get experience. He is very, very short of experience, but I think there's a good engine there, and I'm really interested to see what he can achieve this season."

Novice Hurdlers

BOOMBOX

Five-year-old mare. Jukebox Jury x Soeur Dee
OLBG Racing Boombox Syndicate
Boombox was our Cheltenham Festival winning bloodstock agent Ed Bailey's pick of the Goffs Doncaster Spring Sale, purchased for £110,000 thus giving owners access to the type of horse that is often beyond the reach of traditional syndication models. A full sister to Listed race winner McLaurey, Boombox finished runner up on her only rules start in a bumper at Killarney and the form was given a nice boost when the 3rd Well Bud won a Fairyhouse Maiden on second start over hurdles.

"Everything is positive at the moment. I really like her. She's got a smashing attitude. I had a good chat with Sam Curling, who trained her in Ireland, and he just wondered whether she wasn't quite getting home over three miles in point to points. She ran very well in a bumper in the spring. She's a good, athletic moving horse who jumps well. She'll be ready to start around the end of October or early November, and I think we can have a lot of fun with her. She strikes me as potentially an EBF Mares' Final type of mare, but we'll start at two miles. I just really like her attitude. She's a very professional, straightforward mare of a good size. She'll definitely jump fences in time. There's obviously no mad rush to do that, but I think she will in time, and I think she's a mare to look forward to. I like the fact she's had a bit of racing. She had three point to points and a bumper run, which tells me she can take her racing, and she was consistent and sound. Obviously lots of people are looking for a horse that has had one run and one win, but I like her profile. I think there are a few angles, and that down in trip we can get a bit of progression from her. I think she could be a lot of fun this year."

CLONDAW PARK

Five-year-old mare. Walk In The Park x Zamani 
Mrs Ceri Fell
A point to point winner at Lisronagh Feb 25. £320,000 purchase Cheltenham Festival Sale. Still travelling well when unseating Paul O'Brien three out on rules debut in a Listed Mares' Novice Hurdle at Newbury. Finished 3rd to subsequent Grade 2 winner Charisma Cat on only other start last season at Chepstow.

Clondaw Park is a horse I know you've always held in high regard. It was a little bit frustrating last season with her?

"Enormously, because first time out she was travelling extremely well at Newbury and unseated. Then she was ready to run on New Year's Day, and she got to Exeter only for it to be called off. She came back home, and it was just messy. When she finished third behind Charisma Cat at Chepstow on bad ground, I said to her owners that the best thing we could do was pull up stumps and leave her for next season as a novice, because I'd have hated to get to March and win with her, and then not have her as a novice this year. 

She still needs to mature a little bit mentally. She's still a little bit fussy and finds that the smallest things can upset her a bit, so I hope that doesn't let her down. In terms of natural ability, there's a lot there. She's got lots of power from her hind end to jump, and I personally think she could be a better chaser this time next year. We won't over race her. I'm going to give her every chance to reach her potential, and I think her potential is significant. I just think everything needs to come together for her, and I'm hoping that because we've given her this time and let her mature and develop, we'll be thanked for that this season."

JULIO COOLIO

Five-year-old mare. Crystal Ocean x Miss Bailly 
OLBG Racing (Julio Coolio Club)
Well bred half sister to Romeo Coolio and six time winner Ascending Lark. Bought privately before she ran in a point to point for the yard’s sponsor OLBG, only had the one start in a bumper last season finishing a close 4th to a next time out Listed bumper winner.

Another one for OLBG Racing? Beautiful pedigree, a half sister to Romeo Coolio and your brilliant mare Ascending Lark, so it's a family you know well. We saw her run once last season. How is she coming along?

"I actually bought the half brother at the Arqana sale this summer, a three year old. I love the family so much."

 You're accumulating all the power!

"Yeah, exactly. Well, the mare doesn't miss. Julio is good. She's a lot stronger than she was last year. She was just very raw and weak last year, but she's done really well for the time she's had and looks in good shape. She won't run until the ground changes significantly. She needs cut in the ground, so I've not been in a rush with her this autumn. I think she's a mare of pretty significant ability. I don't think she's a mare that will take loads and loads of racing, but I like her a lot. She'll start in a mares' maiden hurdle, I'd imagine at the end of November, and I think she's got plenty of quality. She's very natural. She did loads of schooling last autumn, and she could easily have won a mares' maiden hurdle last year, but I didn't think she was ready for it. I think she wanted more time, so I'm hoping the time she's had will really benefit her. Her sister Ascending Lark is without question the best mare, and one of the best horses, I've trained by quite some way, and she didn't start winning until she was six. So I'm going to keep being patient with Julio, but there's a big engine there."

LOVER DESBOIS

Five-year-old gelding. Beaumec De Houelle x Rose Hever 
Heart Of The South Racing
Bought as a store for £45,000 at the May 24 Goffs Spring Store Sales. Impressive winner of a Kempton bumper last season before finishing an excellent 4th of 20 in the Goffs £100k bumper at Newbury, conceding weight to the three finishing ahead of him.

You must be excited for him to go hurdling this season? - "Yeah, I think up until now he's probably the best bumper horse I've trained in terms of class. He has a lot of pace. He caught Paul by surprise at Newbury with how well he travelled. Paul said he couldn't believe the progress he'd made from November, when he rode him there behind Bass Hunter, to March. Probably the trainer got him beat at Newbury, having given him a penalty for winning so well at Kempton. If I had my time again, perhaps you wouldn't have run him before Newbury, because I think he gave the winner a stone and a half and the second and third a stone, which is a lot of weight for a young horse. Having said that, I think Newbury will have done him the world of good. He had a proper race there and will have learnt a lot. I find a lot of these jumps horses don't have masses of pace, and I think he is a quick horse. The key with him will be getting him jumping. He's not been the easiest to get schooling, but I think he has plenty of class, and I'm really looking forward to him. He won't start until the end of November. There's no rush with him, but I do like him, and he's one to very much look forward to, I think."

What sort of horse do you see him as going forward, then? A speedy two miler? - "Yeah, I think he's a two miler. He's built for fences. He has size and good range, but jumping has been a project at the moment. So I'm not going to tell you I see him as a chaser, because at the moment I don't. But he is built like one, and he has the physique for it. At the moment I see him very much as a two miler. He's a pacey horse, and I'd like to think he could end up running in some better races. I think he's got good ability, and I'm looking forward to him."

Juvenile Hurdlers

PASS THE BUCK

Three-year-old gelding. Australia x Zofar Zogood
OLBG Racing (Pass The Buck)
Bought privately for us out of Joseph O'Brien's yard in Ireland. He came strongly recommended by Joseph O'Brien and by respected bloodstock analyst Kevin Blake, whose last recommendation to Harry, One Horse Town, won more than £100,000 in prize money in his first season over hurdles.

Juvenile hurdling is a division you've had plenty of success in, with the likes of One Horse Town and Give Me Five. A horse you bought from Joseph O'Brien this year is Pass The Buck. What can you tell us about him? I assume he's going juvenile hurdling for the rest of the season?

"Yeah, absolutely. I thought he made a good debut (finished 3rd) at Market Rasen. He ran well for a long way and just got tired, which slightly caught me unawares. I probably was a bit kind to him when he came back from Joseph's. He looked so good and fit that I just gave him a bit of a break. Turning in, he looked like he was going to go and win, and then he did get quite tired, which was fine. We learnt plenty about him, and he was obviously jumping, which matters because with the autumn being so dry he's not been able to school on grass. I thought he shaped well for a long way, and you're right, he'll continue juvenile hurdling. I think he's pretty versatile in terms of ground, and I think he's a horse we can be busy with. He's pretty physically developed and pretty mature, and a very laid back, gorgeous natured horse at home, but I think he's probably the type of horse that can take some racing. So I expect him to be busy and hopefully give his OLBG Racing shareholders lots and lots of fun. They were a lovely group at his first run, and I'm actually an owner myself, so hopefully he'll give us lots more fun."

*Pass The Buck has since finished an excellent 2nd of 11 in a much deeper Juvenile event at Chepstow on 2nd start, showing a great deal of improvement from his debut.

ROCKSON PIEL

Three-year-old gelding. Goliath Du Berlais x Poprock Du Berlais
Purchased at the Arqana Sale in France, unraced.

Rockson Piel is a new horse to the yard. What can you tell us about him?

"An Arqana sale purchase last summer as a two year old. I just love everything about him. He's pretty forward and he has a great mind. He's not massive. He's my kind of horse, a good athlete, and I just really like him. He jumps quickly and he's done plenty of schooling on grass in the autumn. He will go in those junior hurdle races, which I think are a really good programme for young horses. I don't think we've yet seen the benefit of it in England, but I think over the coming years we will. I like him. He'll start in November, and he will take a couple of races, because he's never had a Flat run and he hasn't run in France or anything like that. But I do think he can make into a really nice juvenile."

Showing you plenty of positives at home?

"Yeah, he's just very professional. He has a great stride. He'll want a bit of cut in the ground, but I love his jumping. He jumps very quickly. We had a few three year olds in training in the spring, and he always looked very forward. If there had been a juvenile hurdle in May, he could have run in it. He was very, very forward, and I just like everything about him. I'm excited by him."

Chasers

NORN IRON

Eight-year-old gelding. Soldier Of Fortune x Coco Des Champs
Dr Paul Kelly
Back-to-back chase wins at Sandown before a career best 2nd of 22 at the Punchestown Festival last season.

Norn Iron had a really progressive campaign last season and ran so well at Punchestown. What are your reflections on his year?

"My reflection is that I don't know what took me so long to run him over two and a half miles, probably. He just progressed for chasing, which we thought he would. The more you read about Soldier Of Fortunes', they do tend to progress over fences, and he really has. Two and a half miles has been the making of him, I think, because you can ride him more patiently and he can grow into a race, and that gives him confidence. I felt that his Punchestown run was a career best by quite some way. He jumped brilliantly that day. I think the track really suited him, a big galloping track like that. He's going to have a hurdle race as preparation for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, because all the stats say you need a run unless you're a Grade One horse, and I don't think he's a Grade One horse. I think he's a good handicapper, and I'd like to run him in all those good two and a half mile chases. I think he can win one of those. I'm wondering whether the December Gold Cup might be his spot. I think the Paddy Power on the Old Course could happen a bit quick for him. That's just my sense. He's going to go there because it's a massive race and I think he can run well, but my sense is that the December race on the New Course could suit better. He's a lovely horse and he's been progressing. I still think there's more to come, because the way he jumps and travels through races will really lend itself well to those big two and a half mile handicaps. That form at Punchestown is pretty strong, with Ballygunner Castle (4th at Punchestown) winning a Kerry National the other day. I think he can make up into a really good handicapper. I'd love to end up in the two and a half mile chase at the Festival if we could, and I don't think that's beyond the realms of possibility at all."

TEDDY BLUE

Eight-year-old gelding. Sea The Moon x Tickle Me Blue 
Hale Sargent Evans Clifton
Took chase form to a new level last season winning 'Big Saturday' handicaps at Ascot and Kempton, won over £100k in prize money in the process.

"I've been immensely proud of him since he's gone chasing, to be honest. He's done so well. I'm going to be a grumpy trainer, which I don't like doing. I rarely moan about the handicapper. As much as we like to think he's not, I think he is invariably pretty on the dot, good or bad. But Teddy Blue getting seven pounds for his last run at Sandown, well, logically I cannot understand it. He got well beat. It was on quick ground. He had been running some fantastic races all season long. He won a £100,000 handicap at the start of the year and a £60,000 handicap in March. I refuse to believe that on the last day of the season he was seven pounds better than he'd been all year, and I will never be convinced of that. He ran because the race needed runners and there was some good prize money, and I feel like Teddy has been pretty harshly treated for being well beaten in the end. It was not like he jumped the last upsides. He was well beaten, and I will never, ever believe, having gone to Aintree and pulled up in the Topham, that he was seven pounds better at Sandown Park than he'd been all season long. So that's made life harder. But he's been a terrific horse who's run some fantastic races. I think he's won over £140,000 over fences. He's been a real credit to everyone who works hard with him here, because he's not an easy horse. 

He's going to start in the Old Roan Chase, and it's not going to be the simplest year with him, because you're asking, is he potentially badly handicapped now? I think he probably is. And is he quite good enough to run in graded chases? Well, maybe not, but he might have to do a bit of that, because carrying 12 stone in those better handicaps will make life difficult for him. He's a horse that I find stressful to train, but I also enjoy it, because he is a real challenge. He's a curious horse, but he's very good, and he's run some terrific races for us. As I say, I don't moan regularly about the handicapper at all. In fact, I think he's largely pretty spot on. But I will never agree that that was a seven pound better run than all of his others, running in good handicaps all season, trying his absolute best and running very well. I thought that was tough on him, and it will make the start of this season tougher."

JASMINE BLISS

Seven-year-old mare. Blue Bresil x Burton Ash
Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate 
Dual bumper and hurdle winner, already shown a high level of form over fences in her first season winning a Listed Mares' Chase at Huntingdon and finishing runner up in the Grade 2 Pendil Novices' Chase at Kempton.

"I'm really proud of her. Up until last season she was a dual bumper winner and she'd won two novice hurdles, but they were Class Four novice hurdles. So to win a Listed chase, I was so, so proud of her. I thought she got a superb ride that day at Huntingdon from Paul. It was so measured. I thought his move at the beginning of the race, to get to the front and cross over in front of the field, was brilliant. Every horse who races deserves success, of course they do, but I was just so proud of this mare to win a Listed chase. She's a good, tough, honest mare. She runs her race and she really tries her best. Then she backed it up with what I felt was a career best in the Pendil, when she finished second behind Jax Junior. I thought that was an excellent run. She's actually won £90,000 in Great British Bonus mares' bonus money now.

She's just been an absolute credit to herself, really. She's a wonderful horse to train, enthusiastic and tough. So we'll just try and go for all those Listed mares' chases this year. There's one at Carlisle at the beginning of November over two and a half miles, and we could start her in that if the ground is safe. There's a Grade Two chase for mares at Doncaster at Christmas, which I think would be a big objective of hers. She's been a fabulous mare. I don't think she can get much better now, but she jumps very soundly and she always tries very hard, and it would be wonderful if she could have another good day."

PURE CARBON

Seven-year-old gelding. Diamond Boy x Rosie's Rein
Mr J Palmer-Brown
Productive spell winning three times over fences in his first season chasing last term.

"He's an interesting horse. Fences just made him into the horse that we thought he was. He jumped particularly well last year, won three races and was very consistent. What's nice about him is that he only ever wins by so far. He looked like he was going to win well at Stratford in his last run of the season, and when he got to the front he just waited. Paul says that's what he does. He likes top of the ground. There's a nice two mile chase on Newbury Gold Cup weekend, which I'd like him to go to, and there's a race at Aintree at the beginning of November which I think we could start in. 

Speaking to his owner in the summer, I think he's a horse that could end up winning quite a valuable two mile handicap chase. I don't quite know where that is yet, but what's lovely about him is that in lots of those two mile chases there are lots of front runners and lots of speed. He likes to be dropped in, he travels well and he grows into his races. If he can keep progressing a little bit, which I think he can, and he keeps jumping like he does, then I think he's a horse with a decent future. He likes good ground, so he won't be running in the depths of winter, but I'm hoping he can just be quietly progressive, like he has been."

Novice Chasers

KLUB DE REVE

Six-year-old gelding. Fly With Me x Silouette De Reve 
Cheerio Partnership
Impressive back-to-back Kempton victories in Novice company last season, the second of which came in the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices' Hurdle. Exciting prospect going chasing.

Klub De Reve had a fantastic season last season. He won the Dovecote at Kempton in a really progressive year. We haven't seen him since February. Talk us through why we haven't seen him since then and what the plan is going forward.

"Frustratingly, he knocked himself at Kempton. It was just niggling away, and it basically stopped our season, which was a real shame, because as you rightly say, I thought he was progressing at quite a rate of knots and just getting better with racing. His first two runs in defeat were very good, and he was progressing all the time and learning to race properly. I think Paul has done a particularly good job with him, because he was quite a nervy horse to begin with. He taught him how to race properly, and he really benefited from that and showed a great turn of foot, particularly in the Grade Two last time out. 

We've decided that we're going to go chasing with him. We just think it's the right thing to do. We always had it in our minds that he was a chaser, and the only thing that gave us consideration is that we thought, off the early to mid 130s, he's pretty well treated, and we wondered whether he could win a nice handicap before going chasing. But we think going chasing is the right thing. He's run in his point to point, and we'll obviously give him some schooling this autumn. I feel like he's a horse we've probably not quite seen the best of yet, because I think he was really getting on a roll last year. He won't be fully wound up at the beginning of this year. He'll be as ready as he was at the beginning of last year, just ready to begin. But I'd like to think he can make into a nice chaser."

What sort of trip do you think you'll stick him over? Will you start over two miles and work your way up, or do you think he's an out and out two miler?

"I will certainly start at two. He showed pace at Kempton last time out that I didn't think he had, but that was a strong gallop that day, and whether they came back into his lap, I'm sure there's an element of that. At the same time, when he landed over the last hurdle and Paul asked him, he did really quicken. So I'm in no rush to step up in trip. If he tells me this autumn, and most importantly if he tells Paul during a race, that he needs to go up in trip, we will. But I think he's got pace, and if he jumps well, two mile chasing could be exciting."

Are there any mid season targets? I know longer term planning at the beginning of a chasing career is difficult.

"No, definitely. My pre Christmas target would be the Wayward Lad at Kempton over Christmas. He's been very good around Kempton a couple of times in his life already. I would love to be able to get to the Wayward Lad having had two chasing runs for some good experience. Hopefully he runs well, obviously, but that is a target I have in my mind."

CRISTAL D'ESTRUVAL

Five-year-old gelding. Crystal Ocean x Aurore D’Estruval 
Barratt Racing
A point to point winner at Lisronagh Feb 25. Topped Cheltenham Festival sale at £400,000, unbeaten in two novice hurdle starts last season including a debut defeat of subsequent Aintree Grade 1 winner Bossman Jack. A very exciting prospect going novice chasing.

We've not seen him since December 2025. How is he coming along?

"Really well. He looks great and he's doing everything nicely. Again, we're thinking that we'll go straight chasing. He looks like a chaser to me. He jumped well in his point to point, bar the last, which he ploughed through. I think he is a chaser, and he looks a chaser. The concern is that he has a lack of experience, but I think we'll just have to give him a bit of racing. Obviously the form of his first novice hurdle reads pretty well now, which is great and backs up what we think of him. We'll just get him started as soon as the ground is safe and go chasing. I think he has a really bright future."

And his setback, you're fully happy with that?

"He's perfect. If you'd really pushed him, you could have run him in the spring, but we didn't think it was the right thing to do. As I said, we think a lot of him, and he's not an old horse. You'd have loved to give him a bit more racing for experience, but looking through lots and lots of horses through the summer and through history, plenty of horses miss a bit of time at some stage in their career. I hope he's missed his bit now. If he gets a clean run, then we're really looking forward to him."

Any long term targets for him, pre Christmas or post Christmas?

"I'm not even going to try and do that with him. I'm just going to start him in a novice chase when he's ready, and he'll tell us. He's an interesting horse in that he's very laid back at home. He doesn't look like a pacey horse, but he's won twice over two miles and showed good pace on his first start. His dam was a good two miler, and yet he won a heavy ground three mile point to point. I'll probably start him in a two mile novice chase, and again, if he has to go up, so be it, but I'm not going to go up in trip until I need to. I think the fewer miles they have on the clock as they get older, the better. Do I see him running over a long trip eventually? Yeah, I probably do, but I don't think I need to for the time being."

Bumpers

NEWBRIDGE

Five-year-old mare. Crystal Ocean x Supreme Gem
OLBG Racing Club
A bumper winner at Newton Abbot on racecourse debut in May 2026 despite showing plenty of inexperience. Her dam has now produced six winners, including the black-type mare River Arrow. Newbridge is 50% GBB qualified which means she will be able to run for bonuses of up to £50,000 during her career.  

Newbridge is a new recruit for the OLBG Racing Club. What can you tell us about her?

"She's feisty. She was very, very sharp to get going. She's not over big, and I love her attitude towards her work. She's tough and likes to get on with it. I think she'll end up being a stayer, personally. I thought she did well to win her bumper for Henry (Daly), because she was obviously pretty green, and Richard (Johnson) and Henry both said there'd be a good bit of improvement in her just from racing. 

She's going to start in the Henrietta Knight Listed bumper at Huntingdon in December. We see it as a bit of a free hit, in the sense that if she's not good enough for it, she'll go hurdling at Christmas. But black type for those mares is massive, so we'll start her there. She's had a bit of a schooling session already and jumps great. I'm looking forward to her. I think she'll end up over two and a half miles. Now we've got her under control, and she's not loose quite so much, we're pleased with her. We like what we see."

OLBG Racing Club members in the Ascot parade ring.

Stable Tour Results

• ✉️ Sign up to the Harry Derham Racing Newsletter for regular updates from Harry’s yard, with competitions & giveaways throughout the season
• 📲 Subscribe to OLBG’s YouTube Channel to see the full stable tour videos and behind-the-scenes content from Upper Farm Stables.
• 🐎 Join the OLBG Racing Club to follow some of these horses up close throughout the season.