Harchibald Champion Hurdle bid all but over

NOEL MEADE believes it will be a “miracle” if Harchibald runs again this season after undergoing an operation to remove a piece of wood or birch lodged in his leg.

The seven-year-old, who had been favourite for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle after finishing runner-up to Hardy Eustace last term, is thought to have picked up his injury at Leopardstown on Thursday.

He came off second best to Brave Inca in the December Festival Hurdle on that occasion and is now likely to be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign having had an operation under anaesthetic at Troytown Hospital.