Matwana boost for Derham after gallops blow

Harry Derham enjoyed a welcome change in fortune when Matwana claimed victory in the Watch Unbridled On attheraces.com Fillies’ Juvenile Maiden Hurdle at Doncaster.

The 3-1 chance looked set for second place after odds-on favourite Belfrina forged ahead approaching the final flight but was left to come home 10 lengths clear after David Pipe’s runner fell at that obstacle.

Derham was forced to take something of a time-out after a storm in late November left his gallop unfit for purpose.

Having received help from his parents in funding an emergency resurfacing project, he admitted it had been a stressful period, but is now keen to get fully back on track.

The Boxford handler told Sky Sports Racing: “We’ve had a pretty miserable time, but first of all I hope David’s horse is OK because we were obviously booked for second there.

“We’ve had a miserable month, we had 74 millimetres of rain in something like 40 hours the week before the Coral Gold Cup, which just completely ruined my gallop.

“It was one of those things where I could either cry about it and do nothing about it, or ring my owners and explain. I did plenty of crying but the biggest thing is that all of my owners were just so supportive.

“They just said obviously this has happened and we appreciate you being up front, and get on and fix it – and we have.

“It’s nice to be back on a racecourse, nice to have a gallop and hopefully we can just put all that behind us.

“I was reading some of the write-ups about today and they said the yard’s been quiet and not having many runners, so I just wanted to tell everyone what’s happened and then I can just get on with doing my job and get the horses back on the track.”

French import Matwana had shown promise in finishing second at Hereford and then fourth behind Opec in a hot Newbury contest before now making it third time lucky since joining Derham.

The trainer added: “I just said to Nick and Ceri Fell (owners) that I’m so pleased, because it’s their first horse and first winner.

“Even if David’s horse had stood up, we were booked for second clearly and I would have been thrilled with her, she ran a fantastic race, I think that’s the best performance of her career so far.

“Obviously, we had some fortune in winning, but after the month we’ve had, I’ll take a bit of good luck.”