Harchibald

[brockguy]

Im down in Tipp at the weekend so I might get to see this guy return. He is probably my favourite NH horse (the jumps version of Discreet Cat as well id say!) and I had my biggest bet of my life on this guy when he won the Bula hurdle. things havent really gone right since his injury, but Id love him to get back to his brilliant best.


from the racingpost.

Possible return for Harchibald in Grade 2 at Tipperary


byBrian Fleming
.
HARCHIBALD, off the track since running fifth in the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown in April, could return to action at Tipperary on Sunday.

The enigmatic eight-year-old, runner-up in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2005, is oneof 11 entries for the Grade 2 Killerk Construction Tipperary Hurdle.

Harchibald won this race two years ago when it was sponsored by JP McManus but in three other attempts in the last four years has been out of luck.

His participation on Sunday isnot certain according to champion jumps trainer Noel Meade, who also has recent Cork winner Definate Spectacle in the race.

He said on Tuesday: "Harchibald is on track again but I'm not sure whether he's ready enough to win on Sunday but he is ready to return. We brought him to Roscommon for a piece of work after racing on Monday and it went pretty well.

"We'll decide later in the week but he wouldn't run on very quick or if it was a bog neither would run. Definate Spectacle will definitely run if the ground is good or better."

Accordion Etoile who had just one run last season over fences since winning the Grade 1 Swordlestown Cup at Punchestown in 2006 is also among the entries. His last outing over hurdles came in the 2005 Galway Hurdle when eighth behind More Rainbows, the same year he finished fourth to Hardy Eustace in the Champion Hurdle.
Trainer Paul Nolan will not decide until the eight-year-old, who has encountered leg trouble in the past, works on Wednesday morning.

He said: "He'll do some work on Thursday and we'll make a decision but he's probably still a bit rusty. If I'm not happy with him he won't run. He wasn't himself at Fairyhouse and he's had an operation since but he seems to be doing okay."

Michael Halford will "most likely" run Tipperary All Star in the race and also intends running Athasi Stakes winner Eastern Appeal in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes.

Jim Bolger confirmed last year's winner Moderooch will be joined by Anna's Rock in the Concorde, while Eddie Lynam intends running Park Stakes runner-up Duff.