TIPPERARY PREVIEW:ALTHOUGH HE is approaching his 11th year, the enigmatic top-class hurdler Harchibald is be tried over fences this season. The 2005 Champion Hurdle runner-up misses today's Tipperary fixture but will make his chasing debut in the next couple of weeks.
“We are going to give chasing a try this season. He was in at Tipperary but although he doesn’t like soft ground, I thought it might be too firm for him there,” trainer Noel Meade said yesterday.
In Harchibald’s absence, today’s star attraction will be the high-class bumper performer Sweeps Hill who makes his jumping debut in the opening maiden hurdle.
The John Kiely-trained horse was runner-up to Dunguib in the Punchestown bumper last season and Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, reported: “He is in good form and John is happy with him. He will come on for the experience but we are hoping for a good run.”
Barry Geraghty teams up with Larkwing in the two-mile Beginners Chase and he can improve on a Listowel third last time.
