Ruby reported in fine form ahead of Champion

Harry Fry reports Rock On Ruby to be "as good as he has been all season" ahead of the defence of his StanJames Champion Hurdle crown a week on Tuesday.

With the recent improvement in the weather, Fry has been able to get his stable star schooling on grass for the first time since December's StanJames.com International having been restricted to an indoor barn. And he believes any further drying in the ground at Cheltenham will improve his eight-year-old's chances.

In his latest blog for StanJames.com, Fry said: "Rock On Ruby is very well. Noel (Fehily) schooled him yesterday on the grass and he's as good as he has been all season. He's really coming into himself now and I just can't wait. It's 10 days away now and he really is peaking and it's very exciting.

"I've said all season we're very lucky to have a horse like him and to be going there in a race like the Champion Hurdle with the form he's in with as good a chance as any, very very positive about his chances.

"If it continues to dry, or if the ground's no worse than good to soft, I think we'll take an awful lot of beating."

Racing Plus Chase winner Opening Batsman, meanwhile, still remains a possible runner at the Festival with Fry saying: "The horse has had an easy week and he'll tell us next week whether it's possible to look at Cheltenham.

"Clearly there are two races he won't be running in and that's the Pulteney Novices' Handicap Chase with 12st 6lb and the Kim Muir where we'd have 12st 1lb. They definitely won't be happening!"