Harry Fry Stable Feature

Harry Fry Stable Feature

Cast your mind back to March 2012 and it was Rock on Ruby's name on the Champion Hurdle trophy, a victory that undoubtedly put Harry Fry on the map. Although he was trained in Paul Nicholls's name at the time, it was Harry who did the majority of the work at the satellite yard he operated for Nicholls. Rock on Ruby still resides at Harry's yard and is enjoying his retirement. His regular rider is now Harry's young daughter Ruby!

2012 Champion Hurdle Winner Rock on Ruby

In October 2012 Harry gained his national hunt license to venture out on his own, a decision influenced by the success of Rock on Ruby. He has been backed by former employer Richard Barber and the rest as they say is history as Harry's training career has been a huge success ever since. Increasing on previous number of wins and prize money won each season, Harry currently has 75 horses in training and has also recently gained a flat license.

Harry is currently operating at a 23% Strike Rate 

Besides gaining invaluable experience with Richard Barber and champion trainer Paul Nicholls,  I asked Harry what else he felt was the key to his success and he was quick to point out that he has a great team behind him which includes his wife Ciara (who also played a big part in the success of Rock on Ruby). Assistant trainer and amateur rider Michael Legg has enjoyed plenty of success in the saddle on Harry's horses. Voix D'eau was a horse he rode to victory in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham's April meeting last year and rode two seconds at last seasons festival.  Stable Jockey is Noel Fehily and Harry has conditional jockey Kieron Edgar based at his yard as well as two amateur's, Ben Godfrey and Martin McIntyre.

Last season Harry sent out 54 winners and has recently matched that so is on schedule for his best season to date. Harry's yard holds a serious amount of horses that have lots of potential and I asked him about a handful of his main protagonists. Although no immediate plans have been made, Harry is keen to send his Cheltenham team to either Punchestown or Aintree before the end of the season but will hold fire for a few more days before making a decision.

Unowhatimeanharry:
Stable Star Unowhatimeanharry finished a gallant third in the Stayers Hurdle at the Festival on ground that Harry felt was slightly too fast for him. Although, as mentioned, Harry isn't making a decision just yet, he has come out of the race well and looked a million dollars Monday morning. The likely target will be Aintree for the Liverpool Stayers Hurdle unless Harry feels he wants more time and will therefore save him for Punchestown. He will probably stay over hurdles for the rest of his career but nothing is set in stone.

Neon Wolf:
It's a similar scenario for Neon Wolf who was an agonising second in the Neptune behind Willoughby Court. The ground would have been on the fast side for him too and Punchestown or Aintree is now on the agenda. He's a huge horse with plenty of scope and one thing for certain is that he will be jumping a fence next season and is sure to scale even greater heights in that sphere. 

    

Air Horse One:
Three times a winner this season, Air Horse One finished a close fourth in the County Hurdle where he was dropping back to 2m1f. Harry feels that a strong pace is the key for this horse and he's unlikely to run again this season.

American:
American skipped Cheltenham in favour of Uttoxeter last Saturday and duly obliged in impressive fashion. Soft ground is a must for him and the Ladbroke Gold Cup (previously the Hennessy) is the long-term target. He may head to Punchestown now all being well and he's a seven-year-old with a big future. 

Desert Queen:
She has remained consistent in listed chase races for mares this season and will now be put away for the rest of the season having finished second at Huntingdon behind Antarctica De Thaix. The same route will be the plan for next season with plenty of prize money up for grabs in those series of races.

Bags Groove: 
Won well at Taunton on Monday when stepping down in class having disappointed in a strong listed race at Huntingdon the time before. He will now be stepped back up in class and will either run at Aintree or at the Cheltenham April meeting a couple of weeks after.

Fletchers Flyer:
A thorough stayer who won at the Punchestown Festival last season. He will be skipping Aintree and Punchestown this year in favour of Fairyhouse in April for the Irish Grand National as Harry feels a right-handed track suits him best. He will certainly have an each-way chance in that race.

Lady of Lamanver:
She unfortunately picked up a small injury since finishing second at Newbury in April. She actually finished in front of Briery Queen that day but lost the race in the stewards room and that horse has franked the form since. Will next be seen in a maiden hurdle and remains with plenty of potential.

Minella Awards:
Returned from a short break to land a Grade 3 Novices Handicap Hurdle, a race in which he was targeted at having finished second in a novice race at Plumpton. Has gone up 6lb in the handicap for that win and will now run in a similar race at Punchestown.

Drumcliff:
Finished a disappointing fifth at Musselburgh in February but scoped dirty after that race so it's best to forgive him that run. Previously finished an unlucky second at Kempton in a competitive race off a mark of 124 and the form has worked out well. He looks potentially very well handicapped with a current mark of 125.

Hell's Kitchen:
Has been off for a while due to a couple of setbacks since finishing third on his first start over fences in November. No immediate plans are in mind for him yet but will again run in a novice chase on his next start and has the potential to be a smart chaser if he can overcome his keenness.

Mr One More:
Made all to win on his bumper debut at Bangor but has been off since. Plenty of horses who ran in that race have gone on to win since. Has suffered a slight setback since that run and the plan is to go novice hurdling when he next runs. 

Finally, I asked Harry to name a couple of dark horses to follow in his yard and the two he gave were Bullionaire and Shall We Go Now. Bullionaire is declared to run in the Goffs UK Spring Sales Bumper at Newbury today and Harry likes them both a lot.

Imperial Cup Preview - Saturday 11th March

Imperial Cup Preview – 3.00 Sandown

Currently heading the betting for the race is Fixe Le Kap who hasn’t been seen since finishing midfield in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival. He’s clearly had his problems but it’s interesting that connections have decided to target a race of this nature on his comeback run. Soft ground seems ideal for him so the likelihood of testing conditions will suit and he showed some strong novice form early on in his career against horses who are now rated much higher so is potentially well treated off a mark of 138.

I strongly fancied William H Bonney in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last month but he was ultimately disappointing having travelled well for a long way. Trainer Alan King was quick to point out afterwards that he had a feeling the run would come too soon for the horse (13 days since his win at Cheltenham on Trials Day) and has been given more time to recover from his latest exertions. On the form of his Cheltenham win he has a strong chance and it’s probably best to forgive him his latest run and will go close if back to form off just 2lb higher than his latest win.

Gassin Golf was an early casualty in the Betfair Hurdle last time but had previously run two good races off the back of a long lay-off. Kerry Lee has booked the services of up-and-coming 7lb amateur Richard Patrick who has impressed this season. Has twice finished placed in this race with a second in 2014 and was third in 2015 off a mark of 132 and races off just 1lb higher this time round.

Ian Williams has been in good form of late and runs London Prize who has remained consistent in recent runs and was travelling okay when falling four out when last seen over hurdles. He’s since gone close in a competitive handicap on the flat. His novice form has worked out relatively well and a mark of 128 looks fair based on what he’s achieved to date. My slight worry with London Prize is that his only run on soft ground was a disappointing one and doesn’t look as though he will appreciate testing conditions.

It’s fair to say recent French recruit Max Do Brazil was disappointing on his British debut in the race William H Bonney won at Cheltenham on Trials day. He’d previously shown some respectable form in France and was purchased for £160,000 before joining the Pipe stable. The Pipe team are notorious for targeting this race and going for the bonus at Cheltenham and he does hold entries at the festival next week. Races with a tongue-tie on for the first time.

Admirable performer Kayf Blanco has produced some good efforts this season, most notably when finishing a close third behind Brain Power over course and distance earlier in the season. He’s run some of his best races at the course but the handicapper hasn’t really given him a chance because of his consistency and although he looks high enough in the handicap at present, he’s sure to run his race once more.

Gary Moore runs two in this race and his best chance looks to be Not Another Muddle judging by Jockey bookings. He’s been progressing nicely in novice company but this is a big step up in class for his handicap debut and will need to improve on what he’s shown so far. He should appreciate the ground though as he’s seemed to relish testing conditions so far in his career.

Bigmartre won a competitive handicap at Kempton in December off a mark of 133 and is only 1lb higher than that win now. He would be of interest on that form although he looked a lucky winner that day with the second being hampered at a crucial stage and was well behind William H Bonney last time out so needs to put that run behind him.

Another horse who is potentially well handicapped is Chieftain’s Choice who won well at Sandown last time out in similar conditions. Will need to step up again on that form but the runner up has franked the form since and is still 6lb lower than his highest winning mark.

Fourth to William H Bonney at Cheltenham was Disputed and he’s since finished second behind an improving horse at Lingfield. His stamina is sure to come into play in these conditions having won over further in the past and is weighted to reverse form with William H Bonney. Hasn’t had much time to recover from his recent run though and does look a difficult ride.

Dual performer Spice Fair looks high enough in the handicap at present and will need to improve on his recent form. Although he has run some decent races at the course, it’s hard to make a case for him.

The other Gary Moore runner is Darebin who is another dual performer in this field and has been kept busy on the flat of late. He’s 6lb higher than his last winning mark so doesn’t look that well handicapped. Has shown improved form on the flat since his last start over jumps but will need to progress again to be competitive today.

Outsider of the field is Prairie Town who reverts to hurdles after finishing runner-up over fences the last twice. Those were decent efforts and he’s clearly in good form but hasn’t won for a while now and looks up against it even on the best of his form.

Verdict: Not a vintage renewal of the Imperial Cup compared to recent years but competitive nonetheless. There’s plenty of questions marks for most of these runners and Fixe Le Kap deserves to be the favourite with the likelihood of more to come and has the potential to be a lot better than his mark of 138. However, it’s hard to be confident about a horse who’s been off for such a long time. Although William H Bonney was disappointing last time I’m prepared to forgive him that run and is of strong interest based on his Cheltenham win. Kayf Blanco doesn’t look obviously well handicapped but has been consistent this season and should run his race once more. Max Do Brazil is surely better than what he showed on his British debut but can’t be backed with any real confidence other than the fact his stable have a good record in this race. Gassin Golf has a good record in this race and has place credentials.

      1)      William H Bonney        2) Gassin Golf        3) Kayf Blanco