Harchibald jumped firmly into the Champion Hurdle picture with a most impressive performance under Paul Carberry at Punchestown today.
The Noel Meade-trained five-year-old was sent off at 10-1 for the Grade Two Mongey Communications Morgiana Hurdle, which had been billed as a match between 9-10 favourite Macs Joy and main market rival Back In Front (11-10).
But the race could hardly have panned out differently as Carberry lobbed along in the slipstream of the big two for much of the way.
Long-time leader Kald River gave way with three to jump as Macs Joy and Back In Front went on, but Carberry was sitting poised with a double handful.
He jumped the last on the bridle and only had to be pushed out to account for Back In Front - who was giving the winner 5lb - by a comfortable one and a half lengths. Macs Joy had to settle for third.
Meade said he had been surprised to see so many people writing off the chances of his charge.
"He's much stronger than last season - he's filled out and is a real racehorse this season," he said. "He has lots of speed and I've always thought he was very good. I'd like to go for the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day, but he'll be entered as well at Leopardstown.
"Wherever he goes we'll stay over two miles and he'll be kept on the Champion Hurdle trail."