Sublimity and Harchibald clash in the ACCBank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday, but Sizing Europe has been ruled out.
Punchestown showdown comes too soon for rising star
Sublimity and Harchibald clash in the ACCBank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday, but Sizing Europe has been ruled out through injury.
Henry De Bromhead's six-year-old virtually pulled up at Cheltenham with a muscle injury and it was thought he would look to rebuild his reputation in this event, but connections have decided against it.
"He's just not quite right, we thought we'd got it but it has come back and we probably tried to do a bit too much too soon with him," said De Bromhead.
"We haven't decided whether he will go chasing next season yet, that is up to Alan and Ann Potts.
"It's a killer of a decision but it can only be right, he's a young horse with a bright future ahead of him."
Instead, former champion hurdler Sublimity and Noel Meade's effervescent Harchibald look set to look horns on their favoured good ground after both were undone by the rain at Cheltenham.
Ideal field
Meade said: "The ground has been great all week and hopefully it stays that way.
"He's in great form, he didn't have a race at Cheltenham, Paul (Carberry) accepted the situation very early and nursed him round.
"He's worked well and we're very happy with him.
"The small field is ideal for him and obviously Sizing Europe isn't there either, but it's still a great race."
Willie Mullins has declared 2007 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Ebaziyan while Salford City, second to Jered earlier in the week, looks set to reappear quickly.
Nicky Henderson's Champion Hurdle third Punjabi, Kalderon and Aitmatov complete the field of seven.
