Leading staying hurdler Blazing Khal for English Cesarewitch winning trainer Charles Byrnes is said to be 100 percent after his set back last term with the handler now taking his time to decide whether he will stay over hurdles of go over fences.
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 still holding the same ability now back to full health he could be a very exciting talent over both codes, deciding on where Byrnes sends him this term.
(Credit Racing Post) Byrnes said: "He seems to be good. We don't have a definite plan yet as to whether he'll go chasing or stay over hurdles. We'll probably be deciding in the next two or three weeks.
"It's just taking a while to get him ready," Byrnes added. "I imagine it'll be another month or so, and he likes ease in the ground too. He's 100 per cent after his setback last season."