Racing: Paul Carberry's availability could determine the running plans for leading Smurfit Champion Hurdle hope Harchibald.

Noel Meade's rising star cruised home under a vintage Carberry ride in the Pertemps "Fighting Fifth" Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday and as a result his price was slashed to 4 to 1 favourite by William Hill for the hurdlers' crown at Cheltenham next March.

Harchibald was following up a similarly impressive victory at Punchestown and his performance delighted Meade, who said yesterday: "He was good wasn't he? He's going to be entered at Kempton (Stan James Christmas Hurdle) and Leopardstown (Bewleys Hotels December Festival Hurdle) but I don't want to run him anywhere without Paul."

If Harchibald runs at Leopardstown he could clash with reigning champion Hardy Eustace, who was forced to bypass the Ballymore Properties Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse today due to a mucus problem. His trainer, Dessie Hughes, hopes to run his stable star in the Giltspur Scientific Tara Hurdle at Navan before the Leopardstown race.

Hughes, who reported Hardy Eustace to have done very well over the summer, said: "He might be all right to go to Navan on Sunday week but we'll see how he is." The Curragh-based handler was pleased to see Harchibald win well, saying: "He was only four lengths behind us in Punchestown (Emo Oil Champion Hurdle) so he was entitled to be thereabouts and we'd have been worried if he hadn't been."

If Hardy Eustace makes it to Navan he could meet prolific mare Solerina, winner of yesterday's Hatton's Grace Hurdle.