Same again for Rubi Light

RACING:TRAINER ROB Hennessy is pursuing an if-it-isn't-broke-don't-fix-it policy as Rubi Light continues his build-up to another crack at the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. Hennessy's stable star landed last year's Red Mills Chase at Gowran en route to a fine third behind Alberta's Run in the 2011 Ryanair and that Grade Two contest later this month is again on Rubi Light's agenda.

“We are going to give him a run in Gowran Park on the 18th of February in the Red Mills and that’s something to look forward with him first. He won it last year and the forecast is bad for the foreseeable future so I would imagine the ground there would play to his strengths,” the Co Meath-based trainer said yesterday.

“After that we’ll just keep him ticking over for Cheltenham. He doesn’t need long coming out of his races,” Hennessy added.

Steps To Freedom, a general 8 to 1 favourite for the festival opener next month, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, is building up his preparation for trainer Jessica Harrington. The dual-purpose horse hasn’t been seen in action since winning at Cheltenham in impressive style last November.

“After he won at Cheltenham in November he had two months out. He is back in now and cantering away so he will do his first bit of work next week. He may have a run on the all-weather before Cheltenham or he may not. Other than that, he goes straight to the festival,” the back-to-form trainer reported yesterday.

“We were delighted with the way he handled Cheltenham. The ground was probably a bit softer than he likes and I am hoping for nice ground in March.

“He was good, handled the switchbacks and if you consider he was at the end of quite a hard season running on the flat, that is why he had a break – to freshen him up for the spring. The great thing is he has won around Cheltenham so has experience of the track. I always think that counts for a lot,” Harrington added.