Madame Luna stays unbeaten, as Harry Derham reaches landmark at Wetherby

Madame Luna made all to maintain her unbeaten status for Harry Derham with an accomplished display in the wetherbyracing.co.uk EBF Fillies’ Junior ‘National Hunt’ Hurdle at Wetherby.

Derham had been patient with the four-year-old after last being seen on debut at Fakenham in November, where she won by 10 lengths.

Madame Luna (3-1) carried a 7lb penalty for that impressive victory and looked a fluent jumper throughout the opening race in West Yorkshire, as she held off Highbury Hill by a length and a quarter in the hands of Paul O’Brien.

Derham said: “She’s a nice mare, it took her a while to get over her last run, hence why we have given her loads of time – she’s not got any problems.

“Her owners have been very patient, so I’m grateful she’s repaid that patience. She’s a really good jumper, she loves her jumping and that’s such an advantage in these kind of races.

“That’s her for this season, she won’t run again and she’s a really nice novice hurdler for next season.”

Derham, who broke the £1million in career prize-money barrier as a trainer with the Wetherby success, is also counting down to Cheltenham and picked out Viyanni as one to watch from his team at the showpiece meeting.

“I’ve got four very nice horses that I think are very nice horses to run there,” he added. “Viyanni and Turn And Finish in the Fred Winter, Queens Gamble will run in the Mares’ (Hurdle) and Moss Fen Road in the Champion Bumper.

“He (Viyanni) has a nice weight, I think he will really suit the race and I’m really looking forward to running him.”

Olly Murphy’s Wade Out showed his class with a wide-margin victory in the RacingTV 100% Profits Returned To Racing Novices’ Hurdle.

The six-year-old made all and more, moving clear of his four rivals to justify his even-money tag by 19 lengths.

Winning jockey James Bowen, who will miss the Cheltenham Festival due to a whip ban, was replacing his brother Sean, who was “sore” following a fall at Catterick on Tuesday.

“He’s straightforward, you can put a line through the last run, but he’s picked up where he left off at Lingfield,” he said.

De Legislator (16-1) secured his first success over fences after making a late charge to snatch the racingtv.com Novices’ Handicap Chase by two and three-quarter lengths.

Lucinda Russell’s charge was last of the five runners at the final bend, but made his move on the inside to sneak up on leader Art Of Diplomacy before challenging at the last fence and powering to victory.

“A lot of that was down to Derek (Fox, jockey), these are very good fences for a novice,” said Russell’s partner and assistant, Peter Scudamore. “He was too careful when he ran at Ayr.

“The horses he beat over hurdles were rated over 125, so I thought he was well-in.

“He might go to Uttoxeter or find a long-distance race for him.”

Tjade Collier celebrated his first winner in nearly a year thanks to Ladronne’s powerful finish in the Bet Now At racingtv.com Handicap.

The 9-4 favourite – who secured Collier’s last victory in March 2004 – looked destined for the minor places when trailing Emotional Roller and Halfway House Lad leading up to the final fence, but his turn of foot saw him prevail by two-and-three-quarter lengths.

“I thought at one point he wasn’t going to get there, but he knows where the winning line is,” Collier said.

“He’s keeping me going, he’s keeping us all going!”

Outer Banks impressed on his handicap debut in what turned out to be a routine victory in the feature Join Racing TV Now Handicap Hurdle.

Stuart Edmunds’ five-year-old was neck and neck with Off The Jury before the latter jolted right and missed the final hurdle.

Outer Banks (9-1) eventually won by 13 lengths, with the Derham-trained Shared benefiting from Off The Jury’s mishap in second.

Konfusion came out on top in a fascinating battle with Heads Or Harps in the Entertain In Style At Wetherby Racecourse Handicap Chase.

Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith’s seven-year-old (3-1) could not be separated with Heads Or Harps, jumping over the last two fences together, but the former found what was needed to prevail by three lengths.

Our Bill’s Aunt (6-1) had just enough to hold off Rockola Vogue by a length and three-quarters for Alex Hales in the Racing TV For The Cheltenham Festival Mares’ Handciap.