Le Frimeur sees off Zanoosh to land Grade One honours at Punchestown Le Frimeur maintained his unbeaten record in style as he powered home to lower the colours of the prolific Zanoosh in the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle at Punchestown, giving trainer Harry Derham his first Grade One winner. Espresso Milan made the early running, but as they turned for home J J Slevin sent Le Frimeur (18-1) to the head of the field. Sent off the 11-4 favourite, Zanoosh gave chase in her bid for a six-timer, but could not keep pace with the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned Le Frimeur, finishing six and a half lengths in arrears. “It’s a cliche, but I genuinely dream about training Grade One winners,” said Derham. “It’s absolutely unreal. Obviously it makes it an awful lot easier with very good horses. “Simon actually grabbed me on the arm at this meeting last year and said he was going to send me this horse. “To have the access to horses like this is something unbelievable. “He got a little setback in the autumn and he’s just improved and improved all spring. “We had no idea how good he was coming here and I’m still not sure we do to be honest. J J said he did plenty wrong in the race and he’s beaten a quality field well. It’s absolutely unreal.” He added: “We obviously believed in the horse a lot or else we wouldn’t have brought him here. J J thought three miles was the right thing to do and it’s absolutely unreal.” Saluting Derham on his maiden top-level victory, Slevin said: “Harry is a young trainer, very ambitious. He’s only going one way and that’s up. It was a big shout from Harry coming here, to run him in that race. “Rated 129, you would think a handicap would be a logical way to go, but I’ve been over there a few times riding out, great facilities, great schooling grounds, great gallop, so fair play to him, it’s great.
