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Noel Meade's Harchibald, a winner of his last three starts, has been pushed out by Ladbrokes in the betting for this year's Smurfit Champion Hurdle at The Festival.

The firm wants to be a stand-out price of 7/2 about the Christmas Hurdle winner.

"The form of his win over Rooster Booster in Kempton's Christmas Hurdle has taken a knock and the yard is still under a cloud so we're out to get him," said Balthazar Fabricius of Ladbrokes.

Macs Joy, as big as 20/1 last September, has been shortened into 7/1 from 8/1 whilst Back In Front is now 9/2 from 5/1.