"163", "name" => "Paul Nicholls", "category" => "The Team", "path" => "/var/www/vhosts/betting.betfair.com/httpdocs/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/", "url" => "https://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/", "title" => "Paul Nicholls Exclusive: Harry Derham turns professional : The Team : Paul Nicholls", "desc" => "It's a family affair at Ditcheat as Paul's nephew Harry Derham goes pro......", "keywords" => "", "robots" => "index,follow" ); require_once '/var/www/vhosts/betting.betfair.com/httpdocs/horse-racing/paul-nicholls//MobileDetect.php'; $mob = new MobileDetect; if ($mob->isMobile()) { ?>

Paul Nicholls Exclusive: Harry Derham turns professional

View market

It's a family affair at Ditcheat as Paul's nephew Harry Derham goes pro...

Harry has come a long way since having his first ride in a point-to-point on Takeroc in December, and I am proud to say that he will be having his first ride as a professional when partnering that horse at Ascot on Saturday.

But is he being a touch premature in turning professional, and what difference will that make in practice?

Clearly, Harry has impressed everyone this season, and is a credit to himself and to the family - for those that don't know he is my sister Julie's son, and therefore obviously my nephew - and the way he has conducted himself since finishing his exams and working here full time.

People will see what he has done on the track, but he is a hard-working lad in the stables who is treated no different to anyone else in the yard. But he clearly has talent and really impressed in riding the likes of Takeroc, and obviously the high-profile victory of Brampour in the Greatwood on Sunday, this season.

So we have taken the decision for him to turn professional; he may just as well get paid for his ability.

But the logic behind turning professional clearly goes much deeper than that. He has learned so much from pony racing, pointing and hunter chasing in a relatively short space of time, and we will now use his 7lb claim to our advantage, and we will look to avoid those dodgy novice chasers.

We will mind him and take it steady for a couple of years, and look to progress him. He is light and fit, and the potential is there for all to see. It is up to us a team to maximise that potential.

And I would like to say a big thank you to John Hales, who has put his trust in Harry and agreed to give him the ride on Neptune Collonges in the Hennessy.

A lot of people said that he looked like Ruby on Brampour. And while there could be no higher praise, I wouldn't get that carried away just yet! But I have spoken to Ruby about him and he agrees that this is the right thing to do. And you have to remember that Ruby has been helping Harry since he was 10 years old.

On the reverse side, James Cowley has switched back to an amateur to get more experience. He is potentially very good, but another season pointing and hunter chasing will see him gain some invaluable experience.

Paul Nicholls / 21 Nov 2011

Paul Nicholls Exclusive: Harry Derham turns professional

The Team RSS / / 21 November 2011 / 4

" class="free_bet_btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">
Harry celebrates victory on Brampour on Sunday of the Cheltenham Open Meeting

Harry celebrates victory on Brampour on Sunday of the Cheltenham Open Meeting

"People will see what he has done on the track, but he is a hard-working lad in the stables who is treated no different to anyone else in the yard."

It's a family affair at Ditcheat as Paul's nephew Harry Derham goes pro...

Harry has come a long way since having his first ride in a point-to-point on Takeroc in December, and I am proud to say that he will be having his first ride as a professional when partnering that horse at Ascot on Saturday.

But is he being a touch premature in turning professional, and what difference will that make in practice?

Clearly, Harry has impressed everyone this season, and is a credit to himself and to the family - for those that don't know he is my sister Julie's son, and therefore obviously my nephew - and the way he has conducted himself since finishing his exams and working here full time.

People will see what he has done on the track, but he is a hard-working lad in the stables who is treated no different to anyone else in the yard. But he clearly has talent and really impressed in riding the likes of Takeroc, and obviously the high-profile victory of Brampour in the Greatwood on Sunday, this season.

So we have taken the decision for him to turn professional; he may just as well get paid for his ability.

But the logic behind turning professional clearly goes much deeper than that. He has learned so much from pony racing, pointing and hunter chasing in a relatively short space of time, and we will now use his 7lb claim to our advantage, and we will look to avoid those dodgy novice chasers.

We will mind him and take it steady for a couple of years, and look to progress him. He is light and fit, and the potential is there for all to see. It is up to us a team to maximise that potential.

And I would like to say a big thank you to John Hales, who has put his trust in Harry and agreed to give him the ride on Neptune Collonges in the Hennessy.

A lot of people said that he looked like Ruby on Brampour. And while there could be no higher praise, I wouldn't get that carried away just yet! But I have spoken to Ruby about him and he agrees that this is the right thing to do. And you have to remember that Ruby has been helping Harry since he was 10 years old.

On the reverse side, James Cowley has switched back to an amateur to get more experience. He is potentially very good, but another season pointing and hunter chasing will see him gain some invaluable experience.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

(4)

  1. paul | 16 November 2011

    Harry Derham cost me a few quid when he beat my fancy quicuyo on takeroc.Then he earned me decent money on brampore twice so ive nothing but praise for the kid so far !keep it up harry my son !

  2. paul | 17 November 2011

    On another note about jockeys i cannot believe you do not use the excellent NOEL FIELY more,everytime i see racing in the week your 2nd jockey Daryl Jacob is picking himself up off the floor-give Noel more rides and you will have a fantastic sub for walsh !
    When is the last time WALSH or FIELY fell off a horse ?
    When is the last time JACOB fell off a horse ? (must be today if he was riding)

  3. paul | 21 November 2011

    Its not related to this article but after watching walsh fall off toubab and today escort men after heavy interest from me personally,i must confess these two horses are just not lucky enough to follow,even for allowing how good they are.Toubab has won 1 from 8 and escort men 2 from 8,even with walsh on them,they still mess it up.

  4. ben james | 20 December 2011

    one of the main things pony racing teaches you is how to ride a finish and personally Harry Derham looked scrappy after the last hurdle when upon Brampour. DO NOT PRAISE YOUNG JOCEKYS TOO MUCH - encouraging cockiness is stupidity, he has a lot to learn and should realise you never stop learning.