Harchibald wins on the all weather Harchibald proved he is in top order ahead of next month?s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham by running out a convincing winner under Declan McDonogh. The charismatic hurdler was having his last prep run ahead of the Cheltenham festival in a fortnight?s time by landing the Hanratty Oils Race over a mile and a half. Settled in mid division by McDonogh, the nine-year-old was sent for home a furlong out by the former champion jockey to go on and score by a length and a quarter at the line and afterwards McDonogh showed how impress he was by joking to Noel Meade, ?I will ride him in the Champion Hurdle for you!? Meade was overjoyed with the performance of his stablestar who was left unchanged by Cashmans at 11/2 and William Hill cut him to 7/1 from 8/1. ?I am thrilled with that now absolutely delighted. I couldn?t believe the way he quickened up. He just lit up when he got here and you couldn?t get near him in the saddling enclosure. Hopefully he comes out of the race ok and if so he is ready to go to Cheltenham. He is in great form and his weight is great and I would be just worried about the ground coming up soft.?
