Washington and Paul O'Brien© Photo Healy Racing
UK trainer Harry Derham registered a first Irish winner and a career highlight today, as Washington (4/1f) easily landed Fairyhouse's €100,000 Listed Bar One Racing "100% Football Acca Boost On Self Service Betting Terminals" Handicap Hurdle.
Ridden by Paul O'Brien, the eight-year-old proved much too strong for a 12-strong home defence, scoring by an easy five lengths from Enniskerry
Derham — a nephew of top English trainer Paul Nicholls, reported “this is the biggest race I've won so far in my career and it's very cool, because this horse is a little bit older and has a few miles on the clock.
“To get him back loving it like this and to put in a performance like that was exceedingly satisfying.”
He added “this race closes early and I thought with the ground in Ireland being quite dry this autumn, that it might suit us and this horse has very sporting owners. We had it in our mind as it obviously has huge prize-money and I thought the track would really suit him.
“When he won at Chepstow last time out I considered the Greatwood but I thought the track wouldn't suit at all. On this place, with a big galloping track, I thought it would be perfect for him. Very rarely in horse racing a plan comes together but this one actually did!”
Quotes from Gary Carson
