Fry confident Ruby can deliver

Bryan Cooper is expecting a big run from Trifolium in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

Charles Byrnes' charge was third in the 2012 Supreme Novices' Hurdle and has returned from injury better than ever, taking well to fences to land the Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown in January.

His jockey said: "It's a good race and hopefully he'll run well."

Ted Veale has suffered defeat at the hands of Trifolium this season and has also finished behind Champagne Fever. However, his trainer Tony Martin is still keen to give last season's County Hurdle winner a go at this race.

"He started the year with a mark of 146, the same as his hurdles one. He ran at Cheltenham and ran well to be third to Dodging Bullets and Raya Star and beat The Cockney Mackem half a length," said the Co Meath handler.

"We then had two disappointing runs, beaten a long way by Defy Logic and Champagne Fever the first day and then Trifolium and I was hoping to get in (the Grand Annual Chase) around 140 but he's left us on 146 so I think we may as well have a go at the Arkle.

"He has plenty of Grade One experience and he might be better off. It will be a small field and he might sneak a place. He's a very classy horse, he ran well in the Ebor on the Flat, and he's a much better horse on good ground."

Harry Fry could not be happier as Rock On Ruby attempts to continue his excellent Festival record. The seven-year-old has finished in the first two in all his three previous visits, winning the Champion Hurdle on this day in 2012 and finishing runner-up 12 months ago, as well as going down by a short head in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle in 2011.

Critics will point to the fact Rock On Ruby has only had the two runs over fences, winning both, but that was due to the trainer avoiding the incessant heavy ground during the winter. With conditions drying out just at the right time, Fry goes to Prestbury Park full of confidence.

"We couldn't have wished for a better run-up on the weather front to Rock On Ruby going in the Arkle on Tuesday. It's been fantastic with all this warm weather. Drying ground is a huge positive for him and we're really excited about his chances," the Seaborough handler told his stanjames.com blog.

"He schooled great on Friday. Noel (Fehily) came in to school all the Cheltenham runners and he looks fantastic thanks to Ciara's (O'Connor) hard work. His summer coat's come through and he's in as good as form as we've known him for a long time. We're very positive about his chances.

"It's going to be a big step up into top-level novice company over fences. He's progressed nicely in his two runs to date and obviously they haven't been overly competitive. But he could only beat what's been put in front of him and he's done that well.

"We know he's got a fantastic Cheltenham Festival record and he thrives at this time of year and it's been exactly the same this time around. So it's all systems go and fingers crossed it stays that way.

"The favourite Champagne Fever is another horse with a fantastic Festival record. People are crabbing us for lack of experience only having had two runs and beating two horses basically, but Champagne Fever's only had two runs and on his last start he made a Horlicks of one and got beat.

"I'd far rather be coming into the race on the back of two good wins on an upward curve, but I think he and Trifolium are the ones to beat. Champagne Fever will hopefully set a good gallop in front and that will suit us down to the ground. It's going to be a fascinating race as always. It's all systems go and we'll keep our fingers crossed."