Harchibald to face El Eile at Dundalk

This weekend promises some intriguing racing as Britain’s top stables finish up their preparations for the 2008 Cheltenham Festival. One of the races that should be of interest to punters is the match up between two of the best priced contenders for the 2008 Champion Hurdle, Al Eile and Harchibald.

Harchibald and Al Eile will square off at the Hanratty Oils Race at Dundalk on Friday evening in a race that should give a good indication of whether Harchibald is deserving of all the hype that has been built up around his performances over recent weeks.

In their most recent encounter El Eile, currently priced 25/1 by William Hill was pushed into second place by 9/1 priced Harchibald at the 2008 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

Even if El Eile wins the 2008 Hanratty Oils Race, he is unlikely to compete in the 2008 Champion Hurdle as trainer John Queally is instead looking to take him to the 2008 Grand National Race for the Aintree Hurdle in April.

Meanwhile a loss for Harchibald would be devastating for Noel Meade. A win is essential for Harchibald to make serious inroads with bookmakers, and perhaps shorten his odds to the point where they accurately represent the threat he offers to 2008 Champion Hurdle frontrunners Sublimity and Sizing Europe.