Exciting Kazal Going Chasing

Trainer Eoin Griffin is planning a novice chasing campaign for Kazal in the coming National Hunt season.

The Irish runner notched up a string of victories over hurdles last term, proving particularly effective in testing conditions, but Griffin is now eyeing a switch to the bigger obstacles.

'He is 99.9% certain to go novice chasing. He does jump well ? he jumps fences better than hurdles. He treats hurdles with a little bit of disdain, he doesn't show much respect for them,' he said.

'He was bought from the point-to-point circuit. He finished third in one run, the owner bought him on the strength of that and he jumps fences very well.'

Griffin admits Kazal's preference for easy conditions could preclude him from lining up in the big end-of-season contests.

'He does need (cut in the ground). Unfortunately, when it comes round to Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown the ground is usually on the better side,' he told At The Races.

'We won't worry about that though as we don't want to think too far ahead. We will take it one step at a time and there's plenty of nice races for him.

'I would imagine around the end of October or beginning of November is when you will see him and we will probably start him off in a beginners' chase at one of the local tracks around here.'

Griffin also enjoyed huge success with juvenile hurdler Lounaos last season but he has yet to firm up plans for the filly after her flop in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

'She's going to find it difficult this coming season as a second-season novice, four turning five,' explained the trainer.

'We need to sit down and really plan a campaign to maximise things for her.

'We will be starting her off on the Flat towards the end of the season. She could go back for the November Handicap that she won last year, but she had quite a lot of allowances that day and I don't know if she would be up to carrying the extra weight.

'There is Listed race there for her a little bit earlier but it's only a mile and a half. We will just have to plan out her campaign.

'She really had no break in almost 18 months last year but she's really done well for a break so I'm hoping there will be a bit of improvement in that regard.'

(C) PA Sport