Ground the key to Harchibald plans

TRAINER Noel Meade has offered an upbeat bulletin over his star hurdler Harchibald, but has said the ground will be the key factor as to where he turns up.

Harchibald, who recently secured his second victory in Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle in dramatic style, could well be on the way back to Leopardstown for a crack at the Irish Champion Hurdle.

Of his Kempton win, Meade said: “I was at home watching the race on television. I was hoping he was going to win but it will always be arguable because Punjabi was going very well when he fell. I don’t know, but Paul (Carberry) thought he had him covered anyway.”