Paul O'Brien has high praise for Harry Derham after duo secure 50th winner together

Paul O’Brien has praised the hard work of Harry Derham and is relishing more success with the in-form trainer after the pair combined for their 50th winner together.

Slugger’s victory at Carlisle on Sunday, which was Derham’s maiden success at the track, helped the duo hit the half-century mark. They joined forces in 2022.

O’Brien steered Seelotmorebusiness to victory at Huntingdon for Derham’s first win as a trainer on Boxing Day two years ago, and he said: "The last couple of years with Harry has been brilliant and it’s been amazing how he’s supported me since he started training. We’ve got on really well and the team is growing hand over fist.

"Harry does plenty at a time, he does all the schooling and the rest of it, and he knows the horses inside out, which helps me out. It’s a good team effort.

"He’s a clever guy and I’d say he wasn’t going round Paul Nicholls’s place with his eyes closed. He’s very switched on and he’s a very good trainer."

O’Brien is excited to be reunited with Brentford Hope on Saturday as the seven-year-old makes his seasonal reappearance in the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

Brentford Hope won five of his nine starts for Derham last season and finished his campaign with a strong second in a Listed contest at the Punchestown festival in April.

"He’s been a star," said O’Brien. "I can’t wait to get back onboard as he’s done plenty of work and he’s ready to go. Hopefully the ground isn’t too quick, it’s probably our only slight concern, but he’s in really good shape and I’m looking forward to riding him.

"He ran a career best in Ireland and he bumped into a well handicapped one of Willie Mullins [Daddy Long Legs], but he was fantastic all the way through the season and he won around Newbury and Newcastle, and he won a nice pot at Haydock before running at screamer the last day."

The Grade 2-winning rider landed his second and Derham’s first winner at Cheltenham last month when Givemefive scored in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle.

O’Brien added: "It was a really good day and he’s been a good little horse. He’s very tough, it was a good performance and Harry targeted the race from probably the end of last season. It was a plan that worked out well."

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