Fortunate start for Harchibald

Harchibald took advantage of a fall at the final flight to make a winning return to action in the John James McManus Memorial Hurdle at Tipperary.

Paul Carberry’s mount, runner-up in the Champion Hurdle, looked held by the long-time leader, who was two lengths up going to the last, but Solerina overjumped and gave David Casey no chance of staying in the saddle.

That left Harchibald, trained by Noel Meade, to come home unchallenged from Ansar.

Both Solerina and Casey appeared none the worse for the tumble.