Harchibald on the mend

Harchibald is continuing to make good progress as he recovers from surgery on a leg problem.

The seven-year-old underwent an operation last Sunday to remove a piece of birch from his off-hind pastern and trainer Noel Meade said “it would be a miracle” if the gelding were to run in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

However, Harchibald is reported to be recovering well and his County Meath handler does not expect to make a definite decision on his Cheltenham Festival chances for a few weeks yet.

“We can’t really say much more than we could at the beginning of the week,” said Meade. “It’s a case of so far so good and we are happy he is going the right way.

“It will be a couple of weeks before we can make a definite decision but I still think it would be a bit dodgy about him making it in time for the Festival.”