Harchibald primed for Punchestown Noel Meade believes a run at the Curragh on Sunday will have set Harchibald up perfectly for a tilt at the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on May 1st. The 10-year-old, winner of the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton earlier this season, finished down the field in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last month and Meade felt his charge needed another run before heading for Punchestown. He ran with plenty of credit to finish seventh of the 18 runners on Sunday in a race won by stablemate Dilshaan's Prize and Meade is now keeping his fingers crossed conditions will be to Harchibald's liking next month. "He ran a good race but he just got a bit tired as the ground was tacky enough for him and I would say that just caught him out a bit," said Meade. "He's getting a bit older now and just minds himself a little bit so for that reason, maybe he hasn't got himself as fit as you would want. "He came out of the race well and he'll go on to Punchestown now before possibly having a couple of runs on the Flat later in the year. "I don't think there is any point thinking about the Champion Hurdle for him next year so we will gear his next season for hurdle races that are going to be run on good ground."
