Son Of Westerner Raids Valuable Listed Prize

Washington (8g Westerner – Present Leader, by Presenting) provided Harry Derham with his first win in Ireland, and his biggest success to date, when landing the Listed handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Grade 2-placed in the past, the son of Westerner returned to winning ways on his first start for Derham in October. It saw him sent off favourite on Sunday and he travelled strongly throughout behind the leader, asserting with two to jump. Clear when ridden approaching the final flight, he ran on well to score by five lengths under Paul O’Brien.

“This is the biggest race I've won so far in my career,” said the winning trainer. “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. We had it in our mind as it obviously has huge prize-money and I thought the track would really suit him.”

Bred by Jeremy McTaggart, Washington is owned by the Syder and Burke families.