Harchibald gets Kempton go-ahead

HARCHIBALD, ante-post favourite for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, secured his passage to Kempton for the Stan James Christmas Hurdle by delighting Noel Meade in a gallop yesterday morning.

The ‘Fighting Fifth’ Hurdle winner will be given a precautionary scope before making the journey from Ireland for Sunday's contest.

Meade confessed to being delighted with the way his charge went in what he described as “pretty serious work”.