Rock On Ruby to begin the season with the StanJames.com International Hurdle
The new trainer, Harry Fry, bred from the stables of the genius trainer, Paul Nicholls, wanted his new responsibility, Rock On Ruby, to contest in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle as the champion revived his career with the new trainer. The plans went down the drain when the ground conditions went so very testing that even trainer, Nicky Henderson, had to pull back Darlan from the line-up.
With these two very important eliminations, the field fell vulnerable to the Donald McCain trained, Cinders And Ashes, who eventually got entered as the favourite of the race and missed it by twelve lengths. The race was won by the Dessie Hughes’ trained, Countrywide Flame.
"He's certainly showing us all the right signs at home and we couldn't be happier with him. Noel Fehily has been down and schooled him a couple of times and that has gone very well, so it's all systems go for December 1," stated Harry Fry.
With the elimination of Rock Of Ruby from the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, champion jockey, Ruby Walsh, too had to miss the chance of racing him because if Rock Of Ruby would have raced then that would have been possible in the capable hands of the jockey who has brought the stable many significant successes.
Oscar’s seven-year-old bay gelding has now been directed for the StanJames.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.
"Cheltenham a week on Saturday is very much the plan," Fry told At The Races.
"It's a shame we couldn't run in the Fighting Fifth but we were more than happy with the decision we made and look forward to Cheltenham.”
"It will be a better race, but he's in great order and we'll take them all on.”
"Countrywide Flame did it well at Newcastle and obviously had the fitness having run on the Flat.”
The Irish bay gelding was successful in the Grade 1 Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on 13th March, 2012 at Cheltenham, 2012 over two miles and half a furlong. He closed the season under the super vision of trainer, Paul Nicholls, with a third position in the Grade 1 John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle on 14th April, 2012 over two miles and four furlongs.
Tags: