One of the most talked-about hurdlers of the last decade, Harchibald divided opinion amongst the racing public. An immensely strong traveller in his races, Paul Carberry was the perfect match for him and whilst it did not always work out for him, when it did, he was capable of some highly-impressive winning performances. He will perhaps be best remembered for the leading role he played in what was one of the most exciting races of recent years, the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2005, but he produced many other memorable performances either side of that never-to-be-forgotten race.
Trainer: Noel Meade
Principal Jockey: Paul Carberry
Grade 1 Wins: Christmas Hurdle (2008, 2004), Fighting Fifth Hurdle (2007, 2004), John James McManus Memorial Hurdle (2005)
Early Days
Harchibald began his racing career on the Flat in France, achieving a useful level of form up to 13f. Having been bought for €80,000 as the end of his three-year-old campaign, he joined Noel Meade to embark on a career over hurdles. He made his debut over obstacles a few short months later and made no mistake in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse, swooping late under Paul Carberry to win cosily. While he added only one more win to his tally that season, he had a wind operation that summer and the 2003/4 campaign would see him progress in the right direction. Having easily won a handicap hurdle at Leopardstown in February 2004, he was sent off favourite for the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. However, Meade and Carberry learned a vital lesson on that occasion, as with Harchibald travelling supremely well underneath him, Carberry made the mistake of going for home after the penultimate flight, but Harchibald faded badly on the run-in to finish fifth. Carberry would never play his hand too early on him again.
Hitting The Heights
At the beginning of the 2004/5 season, Harchibald was considered just a smart handicap hurdler, but he didn’t take long to show himself to be much better than that. After a satisfactory return to action at Tipperary, he upset what was considered to be a match between Macs Joy and Brave Inca in the Morgiana Hurdle by running out the easy 1½ length winner under an ultra-confident Carberry ride. If there was any doubt about the believability of that run, Harchibald went on to better it by winning the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on his next two starts, comfortably beating Rooster Booster on the latter occasion. Meade decided to put him away for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival where he would meet his old rivals Brave Inca, Macs Joy and Back In Front, as well as the reigning Champion Hurdler Hardy Eustace.
A Race To Remember
Sent off at 7/1, Harchibald was ridden with typical patience by Carberry and with Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca engaged in a fierce duel from the penultimate flight, Harchibald made silky smooth headway to track them with Carberry exuding confidence and yet to move a muscle. On the run-in, Carberry waited and waited as Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca battled on gamely, but when he asked Harchibald to pick up in the final 50 yards, the teak-tough Hardy Eustace was a neck too strong for him, with Brave Inca another neck back in third. It was an immensely exciting race and while Carberry received criticism for the ride, history shows that he gave his mount the very best chance of beating an immensely tough and talented pair of Champion Hurdlers. Back at the flatter track of Punchestown, Harchibald was strongly fancied to confirm Cheltenham form with Brave Inca in the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle the following month, but Colm Murphy’s charge proved a head too strong for him on ground that was as soft as Harchibald would have wanted. While his final two starts resulted in agonising defeats, it was a tremendous season for Harchibald and hopes were high that he could gain revenge for those losses in 2005/6.
Back On The Road
Harchibald opened the new campaign with a somewhat fortuitous success in the John James McManus Memorial Hurdle at Tipperary, looking set to finish second only for Solerina to fall at the final flight. Poor luck in running saw him beaten in the Morgiana Hurdle on his next start, but he impressively returned to winning ways in the Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham in December, allaying fears he was unsuited by the Cheltenham hill. He found Brave Inca too strong in the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown later that month and unfortunately was found to have a shard of birch in his tendon after the race, which eventually saw him ruled out for the remainder of the season. The following season was very much a disappointing one for Harchibald, with him finishing well beaten in all three of his starts. However, that would prove to be just a bump in the road of his career.
Return To Grade 1 Glory
After such a disappointing season, many suspected that Harchibald may well be finished, but he didn’t take long to prove that wrong in 2007/8. Following a very pleasing return to action on the Flat at Dundalk, he returned to Newcastle in a bid to regain his Fighting Fifth Hurdle crown. Given his now familiar Carberry ride, Harchibald cruised through the race and led at the last, proving 1¾ lengths too strong for Al Eile. He was widely expected to gain his second win in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton later that month, but the well-ridden Straw Bear proved to be a head too strong for him on the day. Following a successful prep-race at Dundalk in February, he was sent off at 13/2 for the Champion Hurdle, but he proved deeply disappointing on the day and he again failed to run to expectations at the Punchestown Festival.
One Last Stand
At the beginning of the 2008/9 season, Harchibald had been racing for over six years and the signs were that he was not quite the same horse he once was. However, there was one big effort left in him. Following a satisfactory return to action at Dundalk, Meade sent him over for the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Sent off at 7/1, he was unquestionably helped by the fall of Punjabi, but nevertheless he arrived with his trademark late challenge and emerged the ¾-length winner. That would prove to be his final win over hurdles, as following a disappointing run in the Champion Hurdle, he would go on to disappoint in a number of starts on the Flat and after not showing sufficient spark on his chasing debut, his connections felt the time was right to call it a day with him.
The winner of five Grade 1 races over hurdles and over €650,000 in prize money, Harchibald will be remembered by many racing fans for his abundant talent and exciting style of racing, with his role in the 2005 Champion Hurdle sealing his place in National Hunt racing history.
Info supplied by Horse Racing Ireland – Updated January 2011
