Harchibald stars in Meade double

Noel Meade and Paul Carberry continued their fine run of form when teaming up for a big Graded race double with Harchibald and Sir Oj at Punchestown this afternoon.

Harchibald was sent off an unconsidered 10/1 chance as Macs Joy and Back In Front dominated the market in the five-runner Mongey Communications Morgiana Hurdle, and Carberry oozed confidence when getting a lovely run up the inner to lead before the last.

The five-year-old gelding kept on well on the run-in as the ´big two´ in the betting could find no extra under pressure, and he had a length and a half to spare over Back In Front at the line with Macs Joy a head further back in third.

Harchibald was slashed into 14/1 with both Sean Graham (from 40´s) and Cashmans for the Champion Hurdle, while the Cork firm eased Back In Front to 14/1 (from 10´s) and Macs Joy to 20/1 (from 14´s). Incidentally, Accordion Etoile is Ladbrokes new 6/1 favourite following his impressive handicap win at Cheltenham, although he´s still available at 20/1 (from 40´s) with Cashmans.

´I was very surprised that he was totally ignored in the media previews,´ said Meade before adding, ´He´s much stronger than last season and has filled out. We´ll keep him to two miles and on the Champion Hurdle trail, with Kempton and Leopardstown both options for Christmas.´

A final fence blunder almost certainly cost Mariah Rollins victory as Sir Oj made it three wins from as many starts over fences in the Western Pleasure Craddockstown Novice Chase.

Ironically a number of bold jumps under Tom Treacy, deputising for the injured David Casey, sent Mariah Rollins into a seemingly decisive lead after two out. However Pat Fahy´s mare slowed right down and edged right at the final fence and, after landing in a heap, Carberry drove Sir Oj to the front for a two length success.

´He´s tough and jumps great. He´ll be entered for the Drinmore at Fairyhouse but I don´t think he stays two and half miles so we´ll probably go for the Durkan (formerly the Dennys) at Leopardstown. He may need blinkers as he tried to duck out towards the stabling area going to the first,´ said Meade.

Forget The Past made most of the running for an emphatic win in the two and three quarter miles Irish Field Novice Chase. The Michael O´Brien-trained gelding was clear from four out, and Barry Geraghty could afford to take it easy in the straight for a three and a half lengths verdict over Point Barrow who edged out Mullacash on the line for the runner-up berth.

´He did it well and is a nice chaser in the making. He´s in the Drinmore but, while the owner (Sean Mulryan) may want to run, he´s more of a three miler. The ground doesn´t seem to make much difference to him although I wouldn´t say he´d want it fast,´ said O´Brien.

Alan Magee