Harry Fry has labelled the Champion Hurdle success of Rock On Ruby as a "dream come true".
Fry trains the seven-year-old out of Paul Nicholls' satellite yard in Dorset, 30 minutes away from the champion's Ditcheat base, under the stewardship of Richard Barber.
While the name in the racecard says Nicholls, Fry and Barber have done most of the work and Fry feels there is more to come from Rock On Ruby, who will have his next start in the Aintree Hurdle at the Grand National meeting.
"I know it's a cliche but it really was a dream come true," said Fry.
"At the start of the season we had thought about sending him chasing, but as quite of few from last year's Champion Hurdle and the Supreme were going that way, we thought we'd try hurdling as there was a gap.
"To say he had progressed over the summer was an understatement. He was very impressive at Newbury and while we knew Kempton wouldn't be his track at Christmas, we ran him there to see if he could mix it with the big boys and it made a man of him."
"He was sharper after Kempton and we'd done loads of schooling with him. Everything had gone to plan, we took him for a racecourse gallop, which Paul arranged, and we did everything we wanted to when we wanted to do it.
"We look after 25 in the satellite yard, mostly the ones we sourced ourselves which is why they stay with us. Some are sent to us by Paul if they won't go up his gallop, for instance.
"I've no plans to take out my own licence yet, I'm learning from two of the best teachers in Richard and Paul. I grew up just 20 minutes away from Richard and was always pestering him.
"I was a point-to-point jockey for a while but grew too tall and then the opportunity came to join Paul and I was there for four years but the opportunity came up to be Richard's assistant.
"Paul comes down here when he can, but we have all the facilities here and we are left to our own devices. We always liaise regarding race planning as there is no point taking each other on if we don't have to.
"A lot of credit must go to Ciara O'Connor who rides the horse every day and knows him like the back of her hand.
"Aintree is very much the plan now. He's lightly-raced and the step up in trip will be no worry whatsoever. It will only be his fourth run of the season and we knew we wanted to keep him fresh for the spring.
"We always wanted to send him chasing and while we'll take each day as it comes, the plan at the moment would be to go back and defend his crown in March."
Fry added: "He was sharper after Kempton and we'd done loads of schooling with him. Everything had gone to plan, we took him for a racecourse gallop, which Paul arranged, and we did everything we wanted to when we wanted to do it.
"We look after 25 in the satellite yard, mostly the ones we sourced ourselves which is why they stay with us. Some are sent to us by Paul if they won't go up his gallop, for instance.
"I've no plans to take out my own licence yet, I'm learning from two of the best teachers in Richard and Paul. I grew up just 20 minutes away from Richard and was always pestering him.
"I was a point-to-point jockey for a while but grew too tall and then the opportunity came to join Paul and I was there for four years but the opportunity came up to be Richard's assistant.
"Paul comes down here when he can, but we have all the facilities here and we are left to our own devices. We always liaise regarding race planning as there is no point taking each other on if we don't have to.
"A lot of credit must go to Ciara O'Connor who rides the horse every day and knows him like the back of her hand.
"Aintree is very much the plan now. He's lightly-raced and the step up in trip will be no worry whatsoever. It will only be his fourth run of the season and we knew we wanted to keep him fresh for the spring.
"We always wanted to send him chasing and while we'll take each day as it comes, the plan at the moment would be to go back and defend his crown in March."
