No Newcastle For Harchibald Noel Meade has ruled Smurfit Champion Hurdle runner-up Harchibald out of this weekend´s Pertemps `Fighting Fifth´ Hurdle at Newcastle. The six-year-old landed the Grade One contest by two lengths 12 months ago and is one of 19 entered in this year´s renewal after finishing third in Sunday´s Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown. 'He doesn´t run in Newcastle but the Bula at Cheltenham has to come into consideration,' Meade told the Racing Post. 'The Christmas Hurdle is at Sandown this year and that´s a possible too but Leopardstown over Christmas would be my number one choice if the ground is not too testing.' ? PA Sport
