Newcastle test for Harchibald

NOEL MEADE is looking forward to his first runner at Newcastle today as Harchibald prepares to prove his mettle in the Pertemps “Fighting Fifth” Hurdle.

Last seen when running out a smooth winner of the Grade Two Morgiana Hurdle two weeks ago, when he had the smart Back In Front in second place, the five-year-old is the only Irish challenger in the eight-strong field.

“He is already over there. He travelled over yesterday and apart from a delay in Carlisle, everything went well,” said Meade.