Rock On Ruby to kick start the campaign with StanJames.com International Hurdle
The smart hurdler, Rock On Ruby, who missed the Fighting Fifth Hurdle almost a fortnight back at Newcastle due to the soft ground, will race under the name of trainer, Harry Fry, for the first time. He will crack open the season with the Saturday’s StanJames.com
International Hurdle at Cheltenham. The race will also serve as the career opener for the new trainer who previously was a handler at Paul Nicholls’ stable.
Following the withdrawal of the 2011 Champion Hurdle winner and the Nicky Henderson trained, Darlan, the field of the Fighting Fifth had come down to four.
Defeating the three opponents was, Countrywide Flame.
"It's exciting to be running in a race like this with a horse of his quality. He's in great order, I couldn't be happier with him so it's all systems go.”
"It's only a fortnight after Newcastle and, although that was Plan A, the main target is March so what we did before Christmas was always open to interruptions from the weather. We're going to Cheltenham, we know he loves the place so we're very happy. Ciara
O'Connor, who is my girlfriend and assistant, rides him every day and is very happy with him."
The competition in the Fighting Fifth had scaled down due to some really important withdrawals even then the most favoured entry, Cinders And Ashes, failed. However, the line-up for the Saturday’s challenge is competitive in every sense of the word.
One of the most exciting and thrilling elements of the first challenge of the 2012 campaign for the new trainer and his under charge will face contention with the Paul Nicholls’ trained, Zarkandar, who won the last edition of the Triumph Hurdle.
The Paul Nicholls’ trained is unbeaten in the only race that he took part in during the 2012 campaign.
Zarkandar landed the Grade 2 totepool.com Elite Hurdle on 10th November, 2012 at Wincanton race course over two miles.
The other high lights of the line-up include Nicky Henderson trained, Grandouet, who also will be giving his first shot of the season. The French trainer, Arnaud Chaille-Chaille, can be represented by, Albert Hall while trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies has
secured his chances with Mad Moose and Red Riverman.
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