Lounaos Pleasing Griffin Eoin Griffin reports JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Lounaos in top shape as the countdown to the Cheltenham Festival gathers pace.The filly ran a huge race to chase home the crack trio of Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca and Macs Joy in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month and is a general 5-1 chance for the juvenile championship on March 16.'She is in great form,' the trainer said.'We gave her an easy week after the AIG and she goes straight to the Triumph Hurdle.'Griffin has another smart novice on his hands in the shape of four-time winner Kazal, who is another Festival possible, albeit only if the ground comes up suitably soft.'He goes for the two-and-half-mile graded novice hurdle at Naas on February 25,' added the trainer.'The horse definitely wants soft ground and I doubt it would be soft enough for him at Cheltenham.'But if things did go well and he got his ground, he might go for the Brit Insurance. We'll see how things go at Naas first.'(C) PA Sport
