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Dublin Racing Festival

Harry Derham out to end 'incredibly frustrating' spell as he books Rachael Blackmore for major Dublin Racing Festival fancy

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Harry Derham has described the last few months as “incredibly frustrating” but he has full confidence the remainder of the season can be a successful one after he ended a 40-race winless run at Newcastle on Tuesday.

And the upwardly mobile young trainer could once again be victorious on the biggest of stages as soon as this weekend, with stable star Queens Gamble heading to the Dublin Racing Festival, where she will be ridden by Rachael Blackmore.

The seven-year-old mare is the 9-2 favourite for the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy And Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle (12.40 Sunday), the opening race on day two at Leopardstown.

He said: "She's been on the go for some time now and this has been the plan since the Gerry Feilden. She has to carry a lot of weight, but the step up to two and a quarter miles is a positive and the race suits her well."

Derham has had a first and fourth from two runners in Ireland this season, with Washington landing a Listed handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse at the beginning December.

He added: "It's a 0-140 mares handicap hurdle, we decided to go for this rather than bump into a mare rated higher as we're trying to progress up the ranks with her.

"Johnny [Burke, rider] is unavailable, so Rachael Blackmore rides her. She's as good as anyone, her record is phenomenal, and to have her riding for us is fantastic."

Queens Gamble: Listed bumper winner makes it two out of two over hurdles
Queens Gamble will be ridden by Rachael Blackmore at Leopardstown on SundayCredit: Mark Cranham

It has been a difficult period for Derham since his last winner in Ireland as his gallop flooded after 74mm of rain fell in just under 40 hours due to Storm Bert at the end of November.



But Ascending Lark showed her class when completing a hat-trick in the 2m1f mares’ handicap hurdle at Newcastle on Tuesday to provide the yard with a first winner since New Year’s Day.

Although Derham has hit the crossbar on a number of occasions in recent weeks, he believes there is light at the end of the tunnel in what has been a turbulent spell.

He said: "It’s just the nature of the December we’ve had, but I’m not worried about the form of my horses. They’re getting fitter all the time. We’ve obviously had an incredibly frustrating few months because of the situation we found ourselves in, but I’m still optimistic that the best is yet to come this season.

"They’ve all been running lovely races, some of them have been a bit fresh, but we’ve paid the price. A lot of times, Paul [O’Brien] and the other jockeys have told me they’ve travelled great but got to two out and had a blow. It’s clear as day to see and it’s just what we’ve had to endure."

Brentford Hope ridden by Daryl Jacob wins at Newcastle
Brentford Hope: set to run next in the Kingwell Hurdle at WincantonCredit: John Grossick

Brentford Hope has been one of the stars of the show this month after he finished runner-up to Constitution Hill in the Grade 2 Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Derham added: "At the entry stage I was looking for the third-placed prize-money because on ratings that’s where we should've come. Obviously Lossiemouth didn’t travel, so we thought if we could finish second then it would basically pay for his season. 

"He’s been a brilliant horse for us, and for my owners to be in the winner's enclosure when Constitution Hill came in was the chance of a lifetime. It was a fantastic occasion for them."

The eight-year-old holds an entry for the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Newbury on February 8, but Derham is likely to wait another week for the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.


Read these next:

Harry Derham opens up on 'enormous blow' after tough period following gallop flood 

Huge blow for Ben Pauling and Harry Redknapp as leading Cheltenham Festival contender The Jukebox Man is ruled out 

Brighterdaysahead to miss Irish Champion Hurdle but stellar cast still set for Dublin Racing Festival after Tuesday's forfeits 


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Lambourn correspondent
Deputy news editor

Published on inDublin Racing Festival

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