Harchibald failed to shine on his comeback run in the Grade 2 E100,000 Tipperary Hurdle at Tipperary today, finishing fourth to Scarthy Lad, under Barry Geraghty, who was provided Clonakilty trainer Thomas O'Leary with his career biggest winner.
Scarthy Lad moved through to lead after the third last flight, and although Harchibald ranged close to the winner at the next, Scarthy Lad proved five and a half lengths too strong for runner-up Maralan, with Harchibald tiring badly into fourth.
A delighted and relieved O'Leary later revealed 'we deliberately arrived ten minutes before the race with Scarthy Lad because he is a very bad traveller.'
O'Leary, who trained Champion Chase winner Newmill until last season, also added 'Scarthy Lad is a very buzzy horse and has had magnetic therapy to relax him recently, which seems to have helped.'
'He fractured a splint bone last season and I have no immediate plan for him now, although he could run over fences next week if we needed him to.'
Trainer Noel Meade was absent but was represented by his partner Gillian O'Brien who reported 'Harchibald just got very tired and blew up. Although he wouldn't be at his best on a heavy surface, the ground was not an excuse today.'
Cashmans Bookmakers introduced Scarthy Lad at 50/1 for the English Champion Hurdle while pushing Harchibald to 14/1 (from 10/1) for the race.
Elsewhere on a cracking card, English trainer Brendan Duke recorded a double, opening with Zafonical Storm, under David Moran, in the Listed El Gran Senor Stakes.
Duke later reported 'Zafonical Storm has progressed very well this season, is a very good colt and we have a lovely prospect for next year.'
He added 'David gave the horse a great ride and was recommended to me by Jim Bolger, a lifelong friend of mine.'
It later emerged that Zafonical Storm is a half sister to the dam of today's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Rail Link.
Ninety minutes later, Duke's mixed Flat/Jump double was completed when his Openide landed the Grade 3 Kevin McManus Bookmaker Like A Butterfly Novice Chase, under an excellent ride from Davy Russell.
Russell made steady progress from three out on the son of Key Of Luck, making his own luck with a forceful drive at the final fence, gaining ground to lead and eventually win by five lengths over Rights Of Man.
Afterwards Duke stated 'Openide is a very quick jumper but is a small horse so we will try to keep heavy weights off his back.'
The opening five furlong Listed Abergwaun Stakes also went for export with Peace Offering winning for British sprint king Dandy Nicholls, a third win in Ireland for his jockey son Adrian.
Nicholls Snr, whose Moss Vale had just finished third in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp, reported 'I didn't know how he'd handle the soft ground but he seemed to handle it better than most and is now finished for the season.'
Nenagh trainer Tom Hogan has the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham next March as a longterm aim for his Kalderon following the gelding's good win in the Grade 3 Kevin McManus Bookmaker Joe Mac Novice Hurdle.
Hogan stated 'Kalderon probably needs more experience and may run in the Open meeting at Cheltenham in November before having a mid-winter break. I'm a very luck man to have a horse as good as him.'
John Oxx's Noelani signed off from her racing career with a win in the Group 3 Coolmore Stud Home Of Champions Concorde Stakes, under Fran Berry.
Oxx later stated 'she has been unlucky this season and that race was the last throw of the dice for her as she goes to stud now.'
Colm Murphy's yard continues to produce winners and Brave Inca's trainer saddled Spes Ultima to win the Time For A Run Handicap Hurdle, under a strong Shay Barry ride.
Thomas Weekes.
