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Harry Fry would like conditions to be dry as stable star Rock On Ruby drops back in trip in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

The 2012 Champion Hurdle hero failed to last out three miles on soft ground when second to Kilcooley in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby on his seasonal debut three weeks ago.

"He had a hard race at Wetherby so we haven't done an awful lot with him since, but he's in good order," said the Seaborough trainer.

"I'm hoping the rain holds off as we all know he's better on better ground.

" He's coming back in trip after failing to get home in the conditions at Wetherby, but I think we might have another go at three miles on better ground in the spring.

"He's got to give weight away all round, but hopefully he'll give a good account of himself.

"This looks an ideal opportunity to run him before going back to Cheltenham on New Year's Day for the Relkeel which he won last season.

"There aren't too many opportunities so we're looking forward to him taking his chance.

"He's not run at Ascot before, but I can't see it being a problem at all.

"He's got a new jockey with Noel (Fehily) Haydock-bound to ride Silviniaco Conti. Barry Geraghty was available so I'm delighted he's able to ride him."

Philip Hobbs believes Brother Tedd has earned the right to go for a rich prize after continuing his progression with a comfortable victory over Silviniaco Conti at Kempton earlier this month.

The Minehead trainer said: "He's been fast improving. He's now rated 155 after he's won his last two - his first run this season and his last run last season.

"He deserves to take his chance in these conditions races.

"We were thinking of going novice chasing with him this season, but at the moment we'll stick over hurdles while he can run in 90 grand races."

Court Minstrel will have a break shortly once the wintry weather sets in, but trainer Evan Williams is happy to give him the opportunity of winning another good prize following his success in the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow last month.

"We just thought he's in such fine form that we'd have another throw of the dice before the real winter sets in," said the Llancarfan handler.

"The ground is obviously a concern, there's no hiding from it, but I don't think it's as much of an issue over hurdles as it is over fences for him.

"He's had such a good autumn and he'll have to have a holiday during the height of the winter and until this week we had done pretty well to avoid the rain.

"If he is going to have a holiday after one more run then this is a nice place to finish."

Connections of River Maigue are using this small-field contest over hurdles as a stepping stone to going back over fences at Cheltenham next month.

The eight-year-old won two novice chases in the summer since being snapped up for £9,000 at the sales out of Nicky Henderson's stables.

"He has been chasing over the summer and he has still got quite a high rating over hurdles," said Christian Leech, assistant trainer to his wife, Sophie.

"We are using this for a prep race for the Grade Three handicap chase at the Cheltenham meeting in December, which Benbane Head won 12 months ago, or for the Welsh National.

"He stays a lot further than this, but there is fantastic prize-money on offer and hopefully we can nick a bit. Hopefully the race will cut up a bit.

"We bought him about three days after he finished third at Aintree. There was nothing in particular which helped him win those two races, just the novice events at that time of year are that much easier and he still has a bit of class about him."

Grumeti, two places behind Rock On Ruby when fourth at Wetherby in his first start since winning the Cesarewitch on the Flat, represents Alan King, while the John Ferguson-trained Sea Lord completes a field of six.