Noel Meade has confirmed that the brilliant if enigmatic Harchibald will miss out on the Smurift Champion Hurdle and won't be seen again until next season.

Last year's controversial Champion Hurdle runner-up was injured when second to Brave Inca at Leopardstown over Christmas and although currently being treated at the Troytown veterinary hospital in Kildare he will not be ready in time for the Cheltenham festival.

"I've had a long chat with the vet and although he is very happy with him we have decided we are not going to run this season," the champion trainer said last evening.

Harchibald, who been as low as 7 to 2 favourite for the Champion Hurdle after winning November's Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham, had to have a piece of birch removed from his off-hind pastern after his last start.

"Cheltenham is definitely out and while Punchestown is a possibility, I feel it is best to take no chances with him," Meade added. "Rather than risking him, and taking a chance trying to bring him back, it is best to give him time and bring him back next season."

Meade also said: "The vets are pleased with him and are confident there will be no ill-effects at all. He will say in the hospital for the next week to 10 days. There is no rush now to bring him home."

Meanwhile, Asian Maze could finally take her first steps on the road to Cheltenham at Naas on Saturday where the opposition is likely to include Irish racing's other star mare, Solerina.

The Cedar Building Hurdle over two miles and three furlongs is a definite target for Solerina who once again failed to win over three miles behind Rosaker at Leopardstown at Christmas. Solerina worked yesterday morning at James Bowe's yard and the permit holder's son Michael, reported: "She is going great and is in tremendous form. It's all guns blazing for Saturday."

However, Tom Mullins is also looking at the Naas race for Asian Maze who has yet to run this season but is already as low as 8 to 1 with some bookmakers for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.

Asian Maze, winner last season of the Sefton Hurdle at Aintree over three miles, and the Menolly Homes Novice at Punchestown over two and a half, has taken some time to recover from a haematoma on a back foot.

However, she is now back in full work and the mare, whose Punchestown victory was described as a "Dawn Run performance" by her trainer, was one of 13 Irish trained runners left among the Smurfit Champion Hurdle entries made yesterday.

"She seems in very good form again and is over the foot problem," said Mullins who will leave a final decision on Asian Maze's festival target until much nearer the time.

Another possible starting off point for Asian Maze is the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park next week but the trainer said: "That's three miles so Naas might be more suitable at this stage. We want to get the first race out of the way though and take it from there."

The Bowe team are also looking no further ahead than the weekend but that is due to a shortage of opportunities more than anything else. "There's nothing there," said Michael Bowe. "There are three-mile races and two-mile races but what's the point. There is a terrible shortage of two-and-a-half mile races so there is little point in planning ahead too far."

Sweet Wake, the 7 to 1 Supreme Novices favourite who made such an impressive hurdling debut at Leopardstown over Christmas, is one of 18 entries left in Saturday's Irish Racing Writers Novice Hurdle.

Noel Meade's ex-German star looks a standout in the race although Tommy Stack's high class flat performer Tolpuddle could make his jumping debut in the contest.

The other Naas feature on Saturday will be the Grade Two Woodlands Park Novice Chase over three miles where Ted Walsh's Grade One winner Southern Vic may clash again with his old rival Slim Pickings.

Horse Racing Ireland announced yesterday that four races on the flat for 2006 will be promoted from Listed status to Group Three. They include the Denny Cordell Lavarack Stakes at Gowran Park on August 16th which will be the first Group race run at the Co Kilkenny course.

The Swordlestown Stud Stakes at Naas on June 5th has also been promoted. The other two are the Park Stakes at the Curragh (March 26th) and Leopardstown's Kilternan Stakes on Irish Champion Stakes day (September 9th).