Harry Derham, assistant to Paul Nicholls for six seasons, will step out from under the champion’s wing on Boxing Day when he sends out his first runner as a trainer in his own right.
At the end of last season when Nicholls, who is also Derham's uncle, clinched his 13th training title, the 28-year-old moved to Lambourn where he hopes to follow other former assistants who have forged successful careers, Dan Skelton and Harry Fry.
His debut runner will be ex-Nicholls charge Seelotmorebusiness, winner of a bumper and hurdle race who is related to See More Business, the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner who helped establish the Ditcheat handler at the top of the tree, at Huntingdon.
“After what seems like an age, I can’t wait to get started,” said Derham, who all told spent 11 years with Nicholls.
“Seelotmorebusiness has been off the track for 442 days so is likely to improve for the run, but he has done plenty of work and I would hope he can be competitive off a mark of 105.
“It has been a challenge getting to know the Lambourn gallops, but my head lad Graham Baines has been an immense help as his knowledge of Lambourn has proved invaluable.
“It is great to finally get going as a trainer and I am so fortunate to have had the assistance of some brilliant people and some terrific staff to get to this point.
"It is the plan to have a few runners over the festive period with the likes of Dargiannini, Game Winner and Helenn Clermont all ready to run, conditions permitting.
"I have always been a nervous watcher so when the time does arrive, I do not really know how much fun I will be to be around, but this has been a dream for a long time to have runners in my own name so I hope that I can enjoy it.”
