Kazal Set For Hurdling Return

Eoin Griffin is hoping Kazal has better luck when he switches back to hurdles next week.

As the seven-year-old failed to complete in two starts over fences, his trainer has decided to put that career on hold and put him back over the small obstacles.

Weather permitting, Kazal will reappear in the Alo Duffin Memorial Galmoy Hurdle over three miles at Gowran Park on Thursday.

As a precaution, Griffin intends entering the gelding for the Byrne Group Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham two days later.

Should Kazal confirm the promise of his hurdling form last season when he won six of his seven starts then he could book his place in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

'We're reverting back to hurdles and have given him an entry in the World Hurdle,' said Griffin.

'The start of his novice chasing career has been a disaster, really. He now goes for the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park on Thursday.

'It's our local track and we're only about half an hour down the road from it. Just in case that meeting went by the wayside because of the weather we're going to give him an entry for the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham as an insurance policy.'

He went on: 'It hasn't worked out over fences. We're disappointed about it, but hopefully we can get back to where he was last year, maybe, over hurdles and salvage something for the season.

'He's in good form, he's been schooling over hurdles the last few weeks and everything's fine.'

(C) PA Sport