Harry Fry plots renewed bid to swat Hurricane Fly

By PETER ALLISON
Published on 20/03/2013 00:00

Harry Fry would like Rock On Ruby to have another crack at Hurricane Fly in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle.

The young trainer made no excuses for his stable star’s loss of his Champion Hurdle title at Cheltenham last Tuesday to the previous year’s winner. Rock On Ruby did keep on to finish second after making the running in first-time blinkers. “We thought he’d be quite tired but he’s come out of the race well. He was staying on again after the last, so he seems in good order,” Fry said. “We look forward to a trip to Punchestown on April 26, all being well.

“On good ground, we really fancy our chances of serving it up to Hurricane Fly and maybe going two-one up in the head-to-head. On good ground, we can go faster for longer and really keep him out of his comfort zone. Soft ground has been a big plus as shown by his record. Good ground is what sees us at our best and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

It is not guaranteed Rock On Ruby will embark on a novice chasing career. “Chasing next season is a possibility but we’ll take one race at a time,” Fry told his Stan James blog. “He’s the best two-mile hurdler in this country so, when you’ve spent all this time making him a top-level hurdler, to then change discipline to fences, whether you quite reach the same heights, I don’t know. That’s the conversation with the owners over the summer.”

Fry confirmed that the prolific Violin Davis would head for Saturday’s EBF Mares’ Novices’ Chase final at Newbury, while there are also targets for Racing Plus Chase winner Opening Batsman.

“Opening Batsman is very much Aintree-bound,” he said. “He holds an entry in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on the last day of the season and he could also hold a Punchestown entry.

“Aintree’s the next target and, if we tick that box, we can maybe plan for Punchestown or Sandown. “It’s all systems go, he’s in great order and, hopefully, he can continue on his upward curve.”

SELECTIONS

Haydock

2.10 Zaru

2.40 Thunderstorm (nap)

3.10 On Broadway

3.45 Robbie

4.20 Simply Wings

4.5 Gas Line Boy

5.20 Goohar

Kempton

5.45 Green Special

6.15 Scommettitrice

6.45 Metropolitan Chief

7.15 Pereira

7.45 Thane Of Cawdor

8.15 Flashlight

8.45 Ree’s Rascal

9.15 Crucis Abbey

Warwick

2.25 Lone Ranger

2.55 Dont Do Mondays

3.30 Pretty Penny

4.05 Priest Island

4.35 Grand Exit

5.05 Denal Highway

5.35 Court Appeal

Double

Thunderstorm

2:40 Haydock

Dont Do Mondays

2:55 Warwick