Picks Lad

Online Betting Guide (OLBG) offers tipster forums and competitions. Their aim is to build a knowledgeable community of sports bettors who share their expertise and help others improve.

OLBG is now taking a step offline to build a community of racehorse owners alongside one of the UK's most exciting up and coming trainers: Harry Derham.

(Please note that there is no requirement to sign up to OLBG's service when you buy a share and that Picks Lad will appear in your MyStables account as per usual.)

Picks Lad is a talented 8-year-old gelding, in training with Harry Derham at his newly built yard in Berkshire.

Picks Lad is a son of Westlake and out of the mare, Pic Of The Paddock. His sire and dam have only had a handful of progeny between them, but the pairing already seems to be a successful one.

Picks Lad is a very likable horse with good strength and proportion through his body, an athletic build and a concentrated eye.

He is a two-time winner: once in a bumper and then again when stepped up in trip over hurdles. His previous trainer - Kim Bailey - was confident that the step up would bring the best out of him and he was proven right.

Despite winning a National Hunt Flat Race and a Handicap Hurdle for his previous trainer, Kim Bailey, Picks Lad’s potential has always been as a staying chaser and so it came as no surprise that he made the transition to fences so impressively. He won his first start over the larger obstacles for his new trainer, Harry Derham, at Market Rasen by a comfortable seven lengths and looked set for an exciting season of novice chasing.

Click HERE to watch that race.

It’s worth noting that the form of his most recent start has taken a serious boost - Sure Touch won, who finished in 3rd behind him, won the Summer Plate last month off a mark of 137 and the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th behind Picks Lad have gone on to record 8 wins and 5 places between them.

Unfortunately, just before his next start in December of last year, Picks Lad picked up an injury when working on the gallop at home. He then spent the beginning of this year rehabbing before enjoying a Summer holiday with Ed Bailey.

Harry (former assistant to 14-time Champion Trainer, Paul Nicholls), has reported that “Ed has done a marvellous job with him, he looks a picture”, adding that this “all bodes really, really well for the coming months”.

Picks Lad has now made the return to Harry Derham Racing and we look forward to seeing him progress.

Picks Lad currently boasts a 50% strike rate, having won three of his six races to date. He battled well in each of his wins, showing that he’s got plenty of ability and the right attitude for the job.

All being well, an exciting season lies ahead!