Chasing or hurdling? Charles Byrnes finalising plans for promising Blazing Khal

Charles Byrnes is yet to decide whether exciting runner Blazing Khal will be campaigned over fences or hurdles this season, but the dual Grade 2 winner will be ready to make his seasonal reappearance in roughly a month.

Unbeaten in three starts over hurdles last season, the strong-staying six-year-old had been a general 4-1 favourite for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival before he was ruled out of the Grade 1 contest due to a setback in January.

Byrnes initially suggested the 147-rated performer could reappear at the Punchestown festival last spring but the Cesarewitch-winning trainer has opted for the patient route with his rising star.

Layers have priced up Blazing Khal between 12-1 and 20-1 for both the 2023 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase and Stayers' Hurdle.

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."

Blazing Khal (far side): leads over the final flight on his way to winning at Cheltenham last DecemberCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

A little over ten months have passed since Blazing Khal was last seen in action, where he delivered back-to-back Grade 2 victories at Cheltenham in December.

"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."

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