Irish racing: Noel Meade believes it will be a "miracle" if Harchibald runs again this season after undergoing an operation to remove a piece of wood or birch lodged in his leg.
The seven-year-old, who had been favourite for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle after finishing runner-up to Hardy Eustace last term, is thought to have picked up his injury at Leopardstown on Thursday.
He came off second best to Brave Inca in the December Festival Hurdle on that occasion and is now likely to be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign having had an operation under anaesthetic at Troytown Hospital.
"He has had the operation and they have found the piece of wood or probably birch and have taken it out," Meade said.
"From the hospital's point of view the operation has been a success as they have found what was causing the problem, but we now have to try and keep any infection at bay.
"I would have to say that it will be a miracle if he races again this season as he will need a lot of antibiotics. He will need a miracle to get to Cheltenham and while miracles do happen, I just hope it heels up okay.
"He has stood back up and will stay at the hospital for a week or so, but we will have to see how it goes and we won't be taking any chances."
In Harchibald's absence Feathard Lady is the 7 to 2 market leader with her stablemate Brave Inca at 9 to 2.
Hardy Eustace, meanwhile, delighted connections as he set out on the road to a third title with a facile success on an informative card at Punchestown on Saturday. The Dessie Hughes-trained gelding appeared to have a simple task on paper against just two rivals in the Happy New Year Hurdle over two and a half miles, and so it proved.
Conor O'Dwyer's mount was eased home after the last without being asked a question and was value for much more than the one-length margin over Native Upmanship would suggest.
The field went a very steady gallop in the early stages, but the 1 to 8 favourite travelled with plenty of dash throughout on his first start since recording back-to-back successes in the blue riband at Cheltenham in March.
He will now head to Leopardstown for the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle on January 29th, where he is likely to face a much sterner examination against the likes of Brave Inca, Feathard Lady and Harchibald.
Hughes said: "I am very happy and he jumped well. He looked strong, he always carries plenty of weight. Conor was very pleased and we will just keep him at it now until the AIG."
Bookmaker reaction was to leave him unchanged for a third success in the big one at the festival.
Mister Hight advertised himself as Ireland's leading contender for the JCB Triumph Hurdle with a highly-impressive debut victory in the Celebrate New Year's Eve At Punchestown 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.
A decent performer on the Flat, Willie Mullins has transferred the juvenile's attentions to jumping and he was ridden confidently by Ruby Walsh throughout.
Sweeping through the field on the back straight, the 4 to 6 favourite took the lead approaching the last and after his closest rival, Noble Concorde, fell, he cruised home for a 20-length victory over Marhaba Million.
