NOEL MEADE has the enigmatic Harchibald pencilled in for his second outing over fences at Navan on Sunday week.

The 2005 Champion Hurdle runner-up is a latecomer to chasing, but kicked off life in his new sphere with a most-promising second to Sizing Europe at Punchestown earlier in the month.

The 10-year-old made little impression in the closing stages to be beaten 17-lengths into second, but Meade was pleased with the performance.

“I don’t know for sure where he will go, but Navan on Sunday week is a possibility,” he said.

“That will be ground-dependent, but he will be dropping back to two miles.

“He ran well the last day and jumped good, but he needed it more than we thought – as he always does. The winner was exceptional on the day, but we needed the run.”