Harchibald ‘in very good shape’

HARCHIBALD has returned home to his County Meath base in good health after firmly establishing himself as the leading candidate for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle in March.

Noel Meade’s charge was the only horse capable of pegging back Rooster Booster after he opened up an almost unassailable lead in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Sunday.

Speaking from Leopardstown, Meade said: “He seems to be in very good shape. He came home the day after the race and has had no problems.”

The five-year-old is the general 3-1 favourite for the March 15 contest and, if his favoured good ground conditions are not available in the coming weeks, Meade is quite prepared to head to Prestbury Park without another run. “I’d love to run him in the AIG (January 23), but the ground would have to be respectable,” said the handler. “After that we would go straight to Cheltenham if he is healthy and well.

“It wouldn’t be the end of the world if we didn’t run between now and the Festival as he is an easy horse to train, but it would be nice to get a run into him.”

Harchibald easily saw off yesterday’s winner of the Bewleys Christmas Hurdle, Macs Joy, at Punchestown earlier this term, and heads a cast of five Irish-trained horses that lead the Champion Hurdle betting.