Harchibald pulled out of AIG

NOEL MEADE has, as expected, decided against running Harchibald in this Sunday’s AIG Champion Hurdle due to the ground conditions at Leopardstown.

A diamond in the pack of this year’s Champion Hurdle hopefuls, the six-year-old has landed his last three starts in impressive fashion and will head straight to Cheltenham on March 15 without another run.

“The ground is not ideal following plenty of rain and I’ve decided to give the race on Sunday a miss,” said the County Meath handler.