Meade rules Harchibald out

Noel Meade has ruled the mercurial Harchibald out of the Maplewood Developments Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

The Co Meath handler will instead be represented in the Grade One contest by the progressive Iktitaf.

"I said all along that if the ground got heavy, like it is today, he (Harchibald) wouldn't run, and I'm not going to risk him on it," Meade told At The Races.

"I spoke to the track this morning and it's going to be too soft so he will be switched to the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle (November 25th) if the ground is reasonable there, which at the moment it is.

"It looks at this moment as if Iktitaf will take his chance instead. I suppose if he does run it will be the acid test to see if he can cut it with the big guns.

"It will be his first time taking them on and he could do with one or two chances against them before we knock it on the head, but I think he will put up a good show."

The participation of Asian Maze is also in doubt because of the testing conditions. She showed last season in winning twice at the highest level that she could mix it with the big boys, but trainer Tom Mullins is wary of risking her on heavy ground.

"We had an awful lot of rain yesterday," he said.

"The plan is to go to Punchestown and have a walk of the track, and if I thought it would be tacky and too soft I might just wait for the Hatton's Grace (December 3rd). It's 50-50 that she'll run at Punchestown and 50-50 that she'd run in the Hatton's Grace, she might even run in both as they are two weeks apart - we'll probably make our minds up in the morning.

"Brave Inca is the obvious one to beat, he's a great horse and he did it all last year.

"But she's in great form and she's in as good a nick as we could hope to have her.

"We'll try her at two miles but like the rest of mine, she'll come on for the run.

"Her best trip for me at the moment is two and a half, it's not three, at the moment, definitely not three.

"When Ruby (Walsh) got off her last year at Punchestown he said that it was just not her cup of tea. She won the race well enough and nothing was going to beat her, but he just said everything would have to be right for her to get the trip again. I won't forget that.

"I think two miles is the place to start the season and if she can still mix it with the boys I'd like to think she can be a Champion Hurdle contender."

Meanwhile, Slick left a series of disappointing efforts behind to land his first win over timber yesterday in the Racing Post "Hands And Heels" Jumps Series Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton.

Nicky Henderson's charge failed to build on his bumper win in May 2005, but came good under a competent ride from Richard Killoran.

The five-year-old's task was made easier when 11 to 10 favourite Olimpo lost his rider early in the race, and the 9 to 1 shot jumped the last upsides Rebel Raider before keeping on for a five-length victory.

Henderson's assistant Tom Symons said: "He won his bumper, but his wind bothered him after that.

"He has always worked well at home and it is nice to see him do it on the track and confirm what we think of him."