HARRY Fry has been hit with a bitter blow ahead of the Cheltenham Festival this week.

The Dorset handler has been forced to pull top performer Rock on Ruby out of the World Hurdle, after revealing the former 2012 Champion Hurdle winner was working badly at his Seaborough stables.

On his official website, Fry posted: “I am sorry to say that Rock On Ruby will miss the Ladbrokes World Hurdle after working poorly at home. He was clearly not himself which is very disappointing for everyone involved with the horse.

“He scoped dirty afterwards and is now on a course of antibiotics.”

Fry will now look to get his stable star a run in the Grade One Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle next month.

Despite the 10-year-old’s absence, Fry is confident of a fruitful week at Cheltenham, taking what he believes is his strongest team to the event to date.

He added: “Jollyallan will be the centre of attention before the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (tomorrow) as he will be the first ride of the week for the record-breaking champion jockey AP McCoy at his final Festival.

“AP has always liked Jollyallan and believes he will be well suited by the better ground he is likely to encounter at Cheltenham.

“Mendip Express, who is in great order, will be ridden by top amateur Will Biddick in the Ultimate Business Solutions Handicap Chase.

“Bitofapuzzle will be our third runner (also listed tomorrow) in the OLGB Mares Hurdle where Annie Power is the hot favourite.

“On Wednesday I am looking forward to running Activial in the Coral Cup as I feel he is sure to benefit from the step up in trip.

“Henryville is pencilled in for the Pertemps Final on Thursday though he is higher in the weights than I would like. He will soon be going chasing.

“I’m pleased to report that Thomas Brown is in the form of his life ahead of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on Friday. The trip of three miles looks ideal for him. It is possible Fletchers Flyer could join him in the line-up.

“I’ve booked the experienced conditional Michael Nolan for Jolly’s Cracked It in the Martin Pipe Conditional Hurdle which looks as competitive as ever.

“Our final runner of the week will be Karinga Dancer in the Grand Annual which features AP McCoy’s last ride at the Festival."