SATURDAY'S RACING:THE SEASON'S leading trainer, Noel Meade, is anxious about ground conditions for Harchibald in today's Fighting Fifth Hurdle, but, whatever the result at Newcastle, Parsons Pistol could hit the mark for him at Fairyhouse.
Meade had to pull the plug on plans yesterday to run Aran Concerto in tomorrow's Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse, and his mood wouldn't have been helped by reports of good to soft ground at Newcastle.
Harchibald is chasing a third win in the Fighting Fifth after victories in 2004 and 2007, but Meade has said good ground is vital for his enigmatic star.
"He seems to have travelled well, he's in great form and everybody's happy with him," said the Co Meath-based trainer. "The ground sounds a little bit soft to me, but we're just going to have to hope it is okay."
Harchibald is joined in the €121,000 event by the 2007 champion, Sublimity, who is a first runner for his new trainer, Robbie Hennessy, and by Gordon Elliott's Harper Valley.
Irish interest in the Hennessy at Newbury will centre on Tom Taaffe's Slim Pickings, and Royal County Star, who represents Tony Martin.
Back home, Parsons Pistol brings novice form to the €40,000 Ladbrokes Porterstown Handicap over the Irish Grand National course and distance.
The Meade runner faces proven stayers like Arbor Supreme and Alickadoo, but Parsons Pistol has always shaped like a potential stayer, and with Mattock Ranger in the race he has just 10st 5lb to carry.
An interesting runner in today's mares novice hurdle at Wexford is the jumping newcomer Glitter Baby, who ran off a mark of 99 on her last flat start.
A memorial tree planting ceremony will take place at RTÉ in Donnybrook at noon on Monday in memory of Paul Magee, the former reporter on RTÉ radio, who died earlier this year.
WAY CLEARED FOR FALLON TO RETURN TO ACTION NEXT YEAR
KIEREN FALLON has had his way cleared to return to race-riding next year after the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) yesterday confirmed that it has concluded its inquiries into betting activity on 27 races in 2003 and 2004, writes Brian O'Connor.
The BHA has also confirmed they will be taking no action in regard to last year's Old Bailey trial in which race-fixing charges against Fallon were thrown out.
Fallon is serving a worldwide suspension for testing positive for cocaine last year, but is now free to resume race-riding when that ban finishes next September.
A BHA statement yesterday said Fallon "accepted that his attitude to inside information has in the past been reckless, conceding that he has been too free with such information and careless about whom he passed it to."
It added that Fallon also committed to "accept a rigorous regime to ensure he is and remains drug free and compliant with the rules of racing regarding the use of inside information".
The six-time champion jockey will have to appear next year before a licensing committee of the BHA.
He is currently in the United States.
