Harchibald plans are ground dependant

Trainer Noel Meade has offered an upbeat bulletin over his star hurdler Harchibald, but has said the ground will be the key factor as to where he turns up.

Harchibald, who recently secured his second victory in Kempton's Christmas Hurdle in dramatic style, could well be on the way back to Leopardstown for a crack at the Irish Champion Hurdle.

Of his Kempton win, Meade stated "I was at home watching the race on television. I was hoping he was going to win but it will always be arguable because Punjabi was going very well when he fell. I don't know, but Paul (Carberry) thought he had him covered anyway."

In the meantime, Harchibald has returned home in excellent form.

"He's in good shape after Kempton, he came home well. Whenever he runs on good-ish ground he always comes home good."

Harchibald is a horse who does things very much his own way and has earned a place in his trainer's heart.

"He's one of my favourites of all time anyway because he's a horse with a tremendous amount of talent and he has created a huge amount of publicity whether it's been good or bad, but he is a bit of a star," said Meade.

However, the ten-year-old won't be running if the ground isn't right.

Meade continued: "If the ground came up good-ish or good to yielding he'll probably head to the Irish Champion Hurdle. Cheltenham all depends on the ground.

"I won't run him on the ground that he had there last year. We'll see what happens. If we have a dry spring and the ground turns up good, he will run at Cheltenham."