Rock On Ruby to defend the Fighting Fifth Hurdle title for trainer, Harry Fry
The National Hunt season proves out to be making and breaking for entire stables and the connections, however, this season has its own significance for trainer, Harry Fry. This will be his very first term as a conditioner with a license as previously he was handler at trainer, Paul Nicholls’ stable.
The first time trainer is taking charge of Rock On Ruby, who had a very successful season last year and has pointed him for the stanjames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle this weekend on Saturday.
The seven-year-old Irish bay gelding landed the Grade 1 Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on 13th March at Cheltenham race course over two miles and half a furlong. He was under the supervision of trainer, Paul Nicholls, and had jockey, Noel Fehily, defeating Overturn by 3 ¾ lengths.
The favourite entry for the race, Hurricane Fly, could only manage the third position in the field of ten. Oscar’s bay gelding out of, Stony View, ended third in the Grade 1 John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle on 14th April, 2012 at Aintree race course over two miles and four furlongs.
Harry Fry will be taking the gelding out in the colours of the banner of the champion trainer, Paul Nicholls.
"Nothing has changed apart from a name on a bit of paper, and the horse knows nothing about that," said Fry, who trained his first winner in his own right at Exeter last month. "Rock On Ruby summered well and came back in big and well. He's filled out, is seven turning eight and is really entering his prime now."
"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."
"We snuck into the Champion Hurdle as an underdog last year and now we're the ones to be shot at.
The race at the beginning of the last month of the year will not only serve as a test for the entry sent by the Paul Nicholls satellite stable, but will also prove the new trainer as worthwhile and trustworthy. Having won the honour just last year, Ruby On Rock is the one every contestant will look out to beat.
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