Is it wise to back Byrnes or should we look elsewhere for Albert Bartlett clues?

Saturday: 2.25 Cheltenham
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Bristol Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2) | 3m | 4yo+ | RTV/ITV4

Charles Byrnes is often seen as a man whom the bookies fear, but there wasn’t overwhelming support when Blazing Khal won a Grade 2 at the November meeting when he drifted on course.

That victory made it just three winners from 33 runners over jumps in Britain in the last five seasons for Byrnes, but only six of those runners came this season, for a winner and a place.

Blazing Khal had two of these rivals behind when recording that victory. Both runner-up Gelino Bello and third-placed Current Mood are back to take him on again and, in theory, a 5lb swing in the weights should bring them closer together. However, this is a different test.

The race in which they competed last time came over 2m5f on the Old course and it was run at an ordinary pace with a fast-finishing split.

It would therefore have put the emphasis on speed, whereas this race is over three furlongs further on the New course, and there are only two flights from the top of the hill. So which of the trio will be best suited by a stamina test?

That is a difficult question to answer with any certainty. Byrnes said Blazing Khal was “a three-mile horse” after his last win and assistant trainer to Paul Nicholls, Harry Derham, argued Gelino Bello was “a very relaxed horse who stays very well” after his Aintree win.

Even Current Mood had a half-sibling who ran over three miles-plus and when there are three horses from the same race who are difficult to split, it’s often best to look elsewhere.

Lingfield isn’t noted as a hotbed for jumping greats, but Barony Legends produced the joint second-best hurdles performance of the year at the track on Racing Post Ratings when winning by 27 lengths in October, and that was by far the best by a novice at the course.

That leaves him with 3lb to find with the best of these on RPRs but Olly Murphy is having a fantastic season, particularly with hurdlers. Barony Legends could be the fly in the ointment.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

'Softer ground will favour festival hope'

John McConnell landed this prize 12 months ago with the since-absent Make Good, and Blazing Khal arrives with even stronger credentials as he attempts to make it back-to-back wins in the race for Irish-trained challengers.

Double Irish champion conditional jockey Donal McInerney has struck up a good relationship with the Charles Byrnes-trained contender, having been aboard for his last two wins at Galway and Cheltenham.

The form of his Ballybrit success has been enhanced by runner-up Gringo D'Aubrelle bolting up in a Navan bumper before landing what looked a strong Fairyhouse maiden hurdle.

Having landed the Grade 2 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle last time over 2m5f, McInerney expects Saturday's greater stamina test over three miles to be ideal for Blazing Khal.

"He's been very good on both his starts over hurdles this season," said McInerney. "I think softer ground than last time will be a help to him, as well as the step up in trip. He's been strong at the finish of his races over shorter.

"He's a big horse and all this experience should stand to him," McInerney added of the general 10-1 second favourite for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the festival.

Speaking to the Racing Post earlier this week, Byrnes described Blazing Khal as the best horse in his yard but said he had not been tempted to take the top-priced 12-1 on offer for the March target.

What they say

Dan Skelton, trainer of Ballygrifincottage
He's fit and stays and has won point-to-points, and while we're most likely in too deep, we can always come back in grade. I knew it wasn't going to be a big field and he stays well, so we thought we'd give him a try as an older horse. It's not like he's a four-year-old.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Barony Legends
He's in good form and looked a thorough stayer when winning at Lingfield. I'm chucking him in at the deep end but I've always liked him. He has plenty to find with a couple of them but this will tell us which route to go with him.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Gelino Bello
We get a 5lb pull with Blazing Khal this time. The ground will suit him. Three miles is a bit of unknown territory with him but it's the same for all. He's a lovely, progressive horse, so we're hopeful of a good run.

Evan Williams, trainer of Current Mood
I'm probably guilty of taking on horses she can't beat, but at the same time that black type is so important. We'll keep rolling the dice to try to get some because she's a very smart mare on her day. It's tough against the geldings, but she gets plenty of weight off them.
Reporting by Mark Boylan

Read all of Saturday's previews:

12.40 Cheltenham: 'With a clear run, he'll win' - Skelton seeks to move on from shock Drogo defeat

1.50 Cheltenham: 'He's a player' - trainer insight on a quality Racing Post Gold Cup

2.40 Doncaster: 'I hope he's got the wow factor' - Porticello out to cement Triumph claims

3.00 Cheltenham: 'She loves Cheltenham and so do we' - International Hurdle quotes and insight

3.35 Cheltenham: 'They all have chances' - King triple-handed in bid to improve Cheltenham record

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