'Bombling along' Harchibald to go straight to Cheltenham

Trainer Noel Meade is to send his Harchibald straight to Cheltenham for the Champion Hurdle without an intended Dundalk prep run, following the gelding's impressive recent homework.

The ten-year-old was entered in the Dundalk On-Course Bookmakers Race over 1m4f, having won the corresponding contest 12 months ago.

Meade stated "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.".

"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."