RACING: Noel Meade is so satisfied with Harchibald's condition ahead of Cheltenham that he has decided not to run the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle contender at Dundalk tomorrow night.
The 10-year-old was entered in the Dundalk On-Course Bookmakers Race over a mile and a half, having won the corresponding contest 12 months ago.
Harchibald has been kept under wraps since winning the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day due to his need for good ground.
However, connections feel does not need a prep run and his next outing will be in the Champion Hurdle as long as the ground is suitable.
"We're very happy with Harchibald and we just thought that he's in such great form, we weren't just going to run him. We feel we don't need to," said the Navan trainer.
"He'll go straight to Cheltenham now, ground permitting. I don't think he'll work at Leopardstown on Sunday.
"We have him really bombing along at home and nowadays he's maybe a bit better when he's fresh."