Most underated NH horse in training

After Curruthers victory in Saturdays Hennessy there's a case for Mark Bradstocks charge to own this title, but there was another winner on the same card who always seems to be spoken about as 'just short'.

Rock on Ruby isn't one of Nicholls stable stars but this one has the makings of being special.

After racking up a string on novice wins last season he met defeat on trials day at the hands of Bobs Worth when Ruby lost his stick on the Cheltenham run in, he went down by around 2l that day at his first attempt beyond 2m.
Many labelled him a non stayer over the trip and were surprised when Nicholls sent him to the Neptune where he failed by the narrowist of margins finishing better than anything all week, and having some very smart horses behind.

His seasonal debut on Saturday was back at the minimum trip and shouldering 11st 12lb against some smart horses in particular Nicholls Empire Levant who had already won at the meeting, he slammed them all.

So I have to ask what is the horses best trip ?
Is he a livewire Champion Hurdle horse ?
Is he a livewire World Hurdle horse ?
Is he a horse with no real distance?
Or is he really 'just short' ?

 

It was Harry Skelton who dropped his whip on Trials Day.

I'll post my thoughts later; off to a lecture now!

 

You must remember Bobs Worth was interfered with on trials day, and was almost carried out of the race, by a hanging Champion Court, costing him atleast 5 lenghs, so im convinced Bobs Worth was just a better horse than Rock On Ruby at that stage of there careers.

The Neptune has worked out as a very poor renewal, the first few home, the likes of First Lieutenant, So Young, Oscars Wells, Megastar, and even Rock On Ruby lost NTO. I'm not sure if this is accurate, but I've got a feeling Rock On Rubys success on saturday was the first winner to come from the race.

I think he proved on Saturday that 2 miles isn't a problem, and by the way he was robbed on the line in the Neptune, you could say he didn't quite get home. So I'd stick to 2 miles for now and see where it takes him.

I personally don't feel he is good enough to be a Champion Hurdle contender, he won a handicap well off 145, but he would still need to improve atleast 15 pounds to make the frame in the CH

 

In my humble opinion the most underrated horse in racing is dear old Tataniano. Expect all that to change though after this Saturday.

Re Rock on Ruby if he was mine I’d get him over fences sooner rather than later as that looks to been the ‘game’ that he was both bought and bred for and in novice races at Cheltenham (January not March) and especially Aintree he did look to fall somewhat short against the very best last term. Also he’s rising 7 and you don’t want to leave it much later than that to be tackling the big ‘uns.

In saying that though Rock on Ruby did it very nicely at the weekend but whether he can trouble the very best over hurdles I have my doubts.

Re the Neptune race to me he should have won it and it highlighted to me the weakness of Daryl Jacob in a finish. Watch it again, people. The dual between him and Davy Russell looked like one of ‘man against boy’.

 

Correct, apologies.

Interesting that we all accept the potential lack of depth in the champion hurdle field, does the same not apply to the World hurdle ?
I think the horse is versatile, has the pace over 2m and stamin ato stay 3m, and he clearly comes gets on with Cheltenham.
Celestial Halo disappointed in the Fighting Fifth which is likely to leave Andy Stewart without a Champion Hurdle runner, we all know how fragile Hurricane Fly can be so I'd say ROR is a lively outsider.
I take Shergars point, he would need to improve again but could easily do this having had just 5 races over timber...

 

Got to disagree, Oddy. Mr Henderson’s wonderful triumvirate of Spirit Son, Binocular and Grandouet look set to enliven the contest. The latter incidentally has really matured and strengthened over the summer and has looked extremely useful on his first couple of forays this season. Meanwhile, Binocular put up a nice opening ‘sighter’ in the North-East on Saturday. I feel that Mr Henderson’s 6th Champion Hurdle crown is his for the taking next March.

 

Whilst the Champion Hurdle may not be as strong as last season, on paper, as things stand, I still fancy it has the potential to be a good renewal, it will certainly be alot stronger than the one Katchit won, and has the potential to be better than the ones Punjabi and Binocular won.

Hurricane Fly is a doubt in my view, the fact they have already delayed his return suggests something isn't quite right, but if he doesn't run I feel it will attract other horses, the likes of Thousand Stars and Oscar Whisky, would probably go for the CH, instead of a clash with BB. There is also the likes of Spirit Son, Grandouet, Zarkandar, The Real Article, Unaccompanied and Brampour, who could be anything. Then you have the more proven contenders like Overturn and Binocular to remember. So I don't think it will be as bad a renewal as you think