Second favourite for the Grade One Stayers' Hurdle Blazing Khal has picked up another small setback this season that will now see him return for his seasonal debut after Christmas.
Winning on his final start in 2020 in bumpers, he was then sent over hurdles and turned into a different animal, winning on his debut in a 2m3f maiden at Galway and then off the back of that was sent to Cheltenham twice over 2m5f and 3m and landed a hat-trick of races, his last event in a Grade Two, beating he smart Gelino Bello for the second time.
Impressive.
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 11, 2021
Blazing Khal defies the penalty and makes it three from three over hurdles for Donal McInerney and Charles Byrnes at @CheltenhamRaces pic.twitter.com/L7wWBOZYaJ
He was the leading favourite for the Grade One Albert Bartlett at the 2022 Cheltenham festival before picking up an injury and with his handler nominating to keep him over hurdles this term, he is already the second favourite for the Stayers Hurdle at the festival at best odds of 6/1.
However, for ante-post backers they may just want to be a bit cautious with the gelding picking up another setback and we will have to wait for the new year before we see him return to the racecourse.
(Credit ATR) “It will be the other side of Christmas now, he just had a wee setback again a few weeks ago,” Byrnes said.
“He’s being ridden out again, but it will be after Christmas now.“He’ll stay over hurdles this season.”