News round-up: Paul Carberry has expressed confidence in the chance of his old ally Harchibald for this year's Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle and said yesterday that Noel Meade's enigmatic star "should nearly win".
Harchibald followed up a winning return in Newcastle's Fighting Fifth with a narrow defeat by Straw Bear in Kempton's Christmas Hurdle, a run his jockey is willing to dismiss.
"He didn't run up to his best the last day and the ground might have slowed him down a bit. He wasn't travelling as well as he can and it wasn't a bad effort. It's one that got away," Carberry said. He was commenting after a total of 38 entries were left in the Champion Hurdle at yesterday's forfeit stage, a list headed by the reigning title-holder Sublimity.
Carberry was controversially beaten on Harchibald in the 2005 Champion Hurdle but is looking forward to another crack at the race. "He's in good form and seems to have strengthened up a bit. His main strengths are his jumping and his proven speed," he said. "I think he has a great chance this year and should nearly win."
Harchibald is a 6 to 1 second favourite for the Champion with Paddy Power behind Sublimity whose next targeted run in the AIG at Leopardstown could be under threat if the ground conditions are too testing.
Sublimity's trainer John Carr said yesterday: "As of now he is going for the AIG but he probably won't go if it is very heavy. I will discuss it with the owner. It was very, very heavy at Leopardstown last Sunday. Having said that, it does dry out there quite quickly. I would definitely say he can win a Champion Hurdle again and I'm hoping to peak him on that day."
Other Irish interest in the Champion Hurdle will centre on Sizing Europe, Al Eile, Jazz Messenger and also on the former double-champion Hardy Eustace whose trainer Dessie Hughes has yet to decide on running in the World Hurdle or having a fifth career crack at the Champion.
Paddy Power's Champion Hurdle betting: 4 Sublimity, 6 Harchibald, 7 Osana, 8 Sizing Europe, 9 Katchit, 12 Straw Bear, 14 Al Eile, 16 Hardy Eustace, 20 Bar.
