Kazal Considered For Thurles Test

Progressive youngster Kazal is more likely to run at Thurles on Thursday than at the Cheltenham Festival the following week.

The six-year-old will bid for a five-timer wherever he lines up, having maintained his winning run with a gutsy success at Naas towards the end of February.

Handler Eoin Griffin has yet to rule out the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle entirely, however, with underfoot conditions likely to play to his strengths at Prestbury Park.

'The three-mile race is what we'd have in mind for him if we went over there,' he explained.

'Cheltenham isn't the be-all and end-all. It's lovely to have a runner over there of his calibre and he would have a very good chance if he does go.

'The ground will probably be soft there and it's quite unusual for them to have that at Cheltenham and that's the only factor really why we are still hanging on.

'We'll leave a decision until later in the week but we're leaning towards the Thurles race (the Grade Two Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle).

'It's a very valuable pot and it'd be a lot less travelling and there'd be a lot of very good horses in the Brit Insurance.'

(C) PA Sport