Harchibald fancied for December revenge

Harchibald is odds-on with Paddy Power to gain his revenge on some old rivals in the bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Noel Meade’s charge finished a slightly-unlucky third to Brave Inca and Essex in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown last month and he is now quoted at 5-6 to reverse the form.

Harchibald has since won the totesport Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham and Meade is hopeful of a bold show in tomorrow’s Grade One feature.

He said: “He’s in good form and has done everything right since the Bula. There have been no problems with him.

“We will be racing on fresh ground tomorrow and I’m hoping it doesn’t rain but I am happy enough with the conditions.

“All being well he’ll then be off to the AIG and then onto Cheltenham.”

Harchibald finished a neck-second to Hardy Eustace in last season’s Smurfit Champion Hurdle and is a general 4-1 chance to go one better in March.

His other two Festival Hurdle rivals, Newmill and Macs Joy, were fourth and fifth respectively in the Morgiana and with a cloud over Jessica Harrington’s horses, there is not much confidence behind the latter.

Mrs Harrington said: “Macs Joy seems OK but the way my stable is you couldn’t be confident.”

Paddy Power’s December Festival Hurdle betting: 5-6 Harchibald, 5-2 Brave Inca, 5-1 Essex, 8-1 Macs Joy, 40-1 Newmill.