Harbour Pilot to be examined by heart specialist following Punchestown flop.

Trainer Noel Meade is to get a heart specialist to examine Harbour Pilot today following the horse´s poor display when pulling up early in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown last Sunday.

Harbour Pilot, a dual Cheltenham Gold Cup placed gelding, was reported to be 'clinically abnormal' having pulled up after only the seventh fence in the Punchestown race.

A baffled Meade afterwards mentioned that a heart problem was a possibility but explained that it would be rare to develop so quickly. He stated 'one of the things Harbour Pilot has is a good heart and he is fine today but after the race he was all excited and uptight. I´ve never seen a horse like he was.'