Meade waits on Harchibald news

Noel Meade hopes to issue an update on stable star Harchibald tomorrow.

The star hurdler has been pleasing vets at Troytown Hospital as he recovers from an operation last Sunday to remove a piece of birch from his off-hind pastern.

Meade said: “I haven’t spoken to the vets since last Monday. As we said, we will just leave it unless there is good or bad news.

“They’ve been happy with his progress though and we couldn’t have wished for it to go any better.

“I will speak to them tomorrow and we will have a better idea where we are.

“I’m hoping they might even let me take him home.”

Harchibald, a runner-up in last season’s Champion Hurdle, is believed to have sustained the injury when finishing second to Brave Inca in the bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown.