Tag Archive for: Charles Byrnes

Charles Byrnes on target again as Shoot First strikes for Haydock gold

Shoot First ploughed through the Haydock mud to ensure the Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle went to Ireland for the second year in succession.

While the Emmet Mullins-trained Slate Lane delighted favourite backers in the £100,000 contest 12 months ago, Shoot First was actually a big drifter in the market for Charlies Byrnes, eventually going off a 22-1 shot in the hands of 5lb claimer Alex Harvey having been a single-figure price overnight.

In a race run in deteriorating conditions, Harvey elected to take his time during the early stages of the extended three-mile contest before bustling his mount into contention at the top of the straight.

He took over the lead from Phantomofthepoints at the third flight from the finish, after which the 11-4 favourite One Big Bang emerged as his biggest threat.

But try as he might, the market leader could never quite get on terms with Shoot First, who boxed on tenaciously to win the day by two and three-quarter lengths.

The winner had finished fifth on his most recent outing at Galway last month after being off the track for two years and clearly improved for the outing, much to the delight of his young rider.

“He ran great in Galway after a two-year break. He jumped and travelled there today, but he’s still a big raw baby and pricked his ears when he hit the front. I think stepping up in grade he’s going to be even better, so he’s an exciting horse and will jump a fence in the future,” said the 21-year-old.

“It was a proper test, it was his first time on soft ground and he relished it, so it’s great.

“Charles is very good at placing his horses and we could see him in March (at Cheltenham) given he won there two years ago.

“I’ve had a couple of winners in Kelso for John McConnell, who I’m based with six days a week, so I make the odd trip over and it’s great when it all works out like today.

“This is the biggest winner of my career so far and I’m delighted.”



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Heart issue puts Blazing Khal back on the sidelines

Blazing Khal will miss the Cheltenham Festival having suffered a fibrillating heart when defending his Boyne Hurdle crown – with a question mark over whether he will race again.

Charles Byrnes’ stable star won the Navan Grade Two following a long absence 12 months ago, teeing up an unsuccessful shot at the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival.

Off the track for a further 332 days since finishing sixth in that Prestbury Park contest, connections were attempting to see if history could repeat itself when sent off 4-1 at Navan on Sunday.

However, he was one of the first to come under pressure, weakening after three out and eventually being pulled up by Philip Byrnes.

Blazing Khal (centre) in action at Cheltenham
Blazing Khal (centre) in action at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)

Blazing Khal’s trainer has now confirmed a return to the Cotswolds is off the cards and the eight-year-old will be given an easy time before a further decision is made on his future.

Byrnes said: “We’re going to give him a few weeks off, he had a fibrillating heart afterwards and that was the reason he ran so bad.

“He is not going to Cheltenham and we’re not making any plans going forwards at the moment.

“Whether he’ll race again or not we don’t know, we will just see how he is in a couple of weeks and make a decision then.”



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Blazing Khal taking familiar comeback route

Charles Byrnes’ Blazing Khal is being aimed at a repeat William Hill Boyne Hurdle triumph as he makes another comeback after injury.

The gelding, now an eight-year-old, has always demonstrated plenty of ability but his career has been paused more than once by recurring issues.

An unbeaten novice hurdler who won two Grade Two Cheltenham contests in 2021, the horse then never fulfilled his potential in that sphere after missing the big spring festivals due to injury.

He was off the track for a total of 428 days as a result, but his comeback was a winning one when he landed the Boyne Hurdle at Navan last February in an impressive three-length success.

Blazing Khal then headed to the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival where he finished sixth of 11 runners ahead of another enforced lay-off.

However, Byrnes has been bringing his charge back into work since summer last year and, all being well, intends to stage another comeback next month.

Blazing Khal winning the Boyne Hurdle last year
Blazing Khal winning the Boyne Hurdle last year (Brian Lawless/PA)

An entry has been made for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival but Navan would have to go particularly well for that to become an option, although Aintree and the Punchestown Festival are both on the radar for later in the season.

“He’s doing OK, we haven’t had a great run with him but he’s doing well at the moment,” said Byrnes.

“We’re hoping to run him back in the Boyne Hurdle, the race he won last year, that’s the plan at the minute.

“We’ve had him in since July, he’s been stop-start but that’s how it is. We’ve no big expectations this time around; if it happens, it happens.

“He’s got an entry in the Stayers’ Hurdle but he’d have to really show himself off in the Boyne Hurdle to consider going – Aintree and Punchestown would be possibilities but with the way he is, we will take it day by day.

“It’s been different niggles with him but we’re staying positive.”



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‘Disappointed’ Byrnes still to decide on appeal over Gowran decision

Charles Byrnes has expressed his disappointment with the decision of the stewards at Gowran Park on Wednesday to find him in breach of the rules regarding the run of Ellaat in the concluding contest on the card.

Byrnes was fined €6,000, rider Gearoid Brouder suspended for 21 days and the horse prevented from running for 90 days, after the seven-year-old gelding finished fourth in the Racing Again May 23rd Handicap.

Following an inquiry, the stewards stated they were satisfied “that both trainer and rider were in breach of Rule 212A(i) in that both were involved in the running and/or riding of a horse in a race, who deliberately or recklessly causes or permitted a horse to run other than on its merits”.

Speaking after a winner at Clonmel on Thursday, Byrnes said: “I haven’t made up my mind yet whether to appeal or not – I have three days to make the decision.

“I’m very disappointed with the decision to find me guilty as I clearly stated I wasn’t happy with the ride.

“The horse is valueless after it (suspended until August 8) as he is a summer horse. It is what it is, but I don’t know at the moment.”



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Blazing Khal possible for Aintree or Punchestown

Blazing Khal could get the chance to bounce back at either Aintree or Punchestown having seen his winning run come to an end at the Cheltenham Festival.

Charles Byrnes’ seven-year-old headed to the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle unbeaten in five and with a glistening CV having scored twice at the track and impressed in the Boyne Hurdle when tuning up for Festival action.

Despite a cut suffered in that Navan victory causing its problems in the build up to his Prestbury Park assignment, Blazing Khal was still a popular choice with punters and was sent off the 9-2 second-favourite for the feature race on day three.

Attempting to follow in the footsteps of Solwhit, who triumphed for Byrnes in the 2013 edition, Blazing Khal was well positioned jumping the second-last and was travelling smoothly for the handler’s son Philip alongside Teahupoo as the field rounded the turn for home.

But whereas Gordon Elliott’s 9-4 favourite would go one to play a significant hand in the finish, Blazing Khal came under pressure approaching the last and then faded up the hill to finish sixth, beaten just over 11 lengths.

He is now set for an easy few weeks to get over his Cheltenham exertions before connections plot their next move – with Byrnes favouring the easier three miles of the JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle Hurdle on Grand National Day (April 15) over the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers’ Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival (April 27).

“He’s OK. He just didn’t seem to stay up the hill, he got very tired from the last till home,” said Byrnes.

“We’ll give him the chance to get over that for a couple of weeks and then make a plan.

“He’s got two options – he can go to Aintree or he can go to Punchestown. I’m probably favouring Aintree because it is the easier three miles, but we will see in a few weeks.”

Despite winning twice at Cheltenham previously, Blazing Khal disappointed in the Stayers' Hurdle (
Despite winning twice at Cheltenham previously, Blazing Khal disappointed in the Stayers’ Hurdle (Zac Goodwin/PA)

When asked if the interrupted preparations had a baring on Blazing Khal’s performance, Byrnes added: “I’d say it definitely played it’s part, but he just didn’t seem to stay the distance.

“It definitely didn’t help, but that being said he was well beaten and I don’t want to make too many excuses.

“We’ll freshen him up now and try and get another good run out of him.”



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Blazing Khal steps up for Stayers’ task after troubled prep

Blazing Khal faces his toughest task yet at Cheltenham on Thursday when he attempts to extend his five-race winning streak in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.

His participation in the day three feature has been a hot topic of discussion in the build up to the Festival and one that intensified once trainer Charles Byrnes revealed the seven-year-old suffered a cut during his impressive comeback victory in the Boyne Hurdle – subsequently facing a race against time to secure his place in the field.

The Ballynoe Stables handler is relieved to be in touching distance of getting Blazing Khal to the start line for his first run in Grade One company.

“It’s been well documented, his preparation, but I can’t change anything. That’s gone and we have him here and we can now just hope for the best,” said Byrnes.

“We’re pleased to get him here, we would have preferred a better preparation, but we will make the most of it and hope the horse and jockey come back safe.

“He’s beat lesser company so far and it’s a big step up to Grade One company from what he has been up against, but we will try to make the most of it.”

Blazing Khal will be ridden by Byrnes’ son Philip as the trainer bids for a second Stayers’ Hurdle victory following Solwhit 10 years ago.

Blazing Khal on the way to winning the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2021
Blazing Khal on the way to winning the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2021 (David Davies/PA)

“It’s a massive day and a massive family occasion,” continued Ballingarry-based Byrnes.

“But as far as we’re concerned, there is no pressure as he hasn’t had the ideal preparation and we’re here and hoping more than anything.

“It would be lovely to win it again, but Solwhit was an exceptional horse. He won eight Grade Ones while Blazing Khal is yet to win one. They don’t make Solwhits too often.”

Blazing Khal will have to lower the colours of Flooring Porter, who after his own struggles to make the Festival, returns to his old stomping ground looking for a third-straight victory in Thursday’s main event.

“He’s had an interrupted preparation, but we’re pretty happy with him and hopefully he can run a big race,” said trainer Gavin Cromwell.

Jockey Danny Mullins celebrates on Flooring Porter after winning the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2022
Jockey Danny Mullins celebrates on Flooring Porter after winning the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2022 (Steven Paston/PA)

“He knows how to win around the track which is a big positive. It’s not going to be an easy task, it’s a very good renewal of the race and we’re probably a little bit up against it, but he is the horse who has the form in the race.

“Everyone is very excited now and looking forward to it.”

Teahupoo was the first horse to down Honeysuckle when capturing the Hatton’s Grace earlier this season and followed up by winning Gowran’s Galmoy Hurdle to put himself firmly in the Stayers’ Hurdle mix.

“We were trying to make him a quicker horse than he is last year running over two miles, but he looks to have found his niche over longer trips,” said trainer Gordon Elliott, who also saddles 2021 runner-up Sire Du Berlais.

Teahupoo will bid to give Gordon Elliott his first win in the Stayers' Hurdle
Teahupoo will bid to give Gordon Elliott his first win in the Stayers’ Hurdle (Niall Carson/PA)

“If you’d spoken to me this time last year, I’d have said he had a squeak in the Champion Hurdle, but he was just run off his feet.

“He’s a good horse and Davy (Russell, jockey) said he’s better for knowing. He said he got there too soon the last day, as he’s so relaxed and then he grabs hold and goes.

“He’s a young horse on the way up. He was good in the Hatton’s Grace and he was equally as good in Gowran.

“He’s a fair horse. He doesn’t do anything exciting at home, but he seems to do it on the track.”

The Irish challenge is further strengthened by Joseph O’Brien’s Home By The Lee, who accounted for a useful cast in Navan’s Lismullen Hurdle before proving that was no fluke when running out a three-length winner of the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.

“He goes there with a big chance. He is fit and well and his preparation has gone great,” said O’Brien.

“We are looking forward to the race. It looks a really strong Stayers’ Hurdle this year, but we are right in the mix.

“He likes being fresh, so it was always the plan to go straight from Christmas to Cheltenham.”

Ashdale Bob was runner-up to Home By The Lee in the Christmas Hurdle and is another raider from the Emerald Isle in the line up along with Willie Mullins’ former Festival hero Klassical Dream, while there is a continental flavour to the contest with two runners from France taking part.

Gabriel Leenders’ Gold Tweet caused an upset when romping to Cleeve Hurdle success on Festival Trials Day and he is joined by Hugo Merienne’s Henri Le Farceur.

“He jumps his hurdles very fast and he’s a very strong horse. He’s not big, but he’s very strong and if we follow (the pace) he’ll have a fast finish, which is perfect for an English race,” said Leenders.

“We’ve trained him for every possibility and if the race is fast or steady, it’s not a problem. The jockey will keep relaxed and it won’t be a problem, he will be ready.”

Merienne added: “Henri Le Farceur likes the distance and I think he’ll like the track. It’s a challenge but we’ll see. He’ll need to come and improve but we will try.

“We were actually thinking about whether to go to Kempton over Christmas, but the horse had a hard race at Auteuil and we gave him a few weeks off. When Gold Tweet won, the horse was in really good form and back in training and we thought we’d come over.

“There’s a lot of French trainers who’ve won in England and a few have come here already, it’s like a dream to come here. It’s like the World Cup and we’ll try our best.”

There are just two British-trained contenders – Dashel Drasher and Paisley Park – who were second and third respectively behind Gold Tweet in the Cleeve.

Emma Lavelle believes she has her 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle hero in top form ahead of his fifth run in the race and is crossing her fingers the popular 11-year-old can roll back the years.

She said: “He’s amazing to keep pulling it out the bag the way he has over the year and he certainly seems in good order.

Paisley Park is an ever-present in the Stayers' Hurdle
Paisley Park is an ever-present in the Stayers’ Hurdle (David Davies/PA)

“It looks a competitive renewal, but we know he loves Cheltenham, we know he loves that course and, touch wood, he has had a good preparation since his run in the Cleeve. Hopefully there will be plenty of pace and we see him flying up the hill at the finish.

“The ground is a positive for him in that it will probably slow the others up a bit, but to be honest I don’t think he really cares too much about the ground. He doesn’t like that really tacky ground, but outside of that he’s quite happy with whatever is thrown at him.

“It would a phenomenal achievement (to win the race again), but he has done us so proud over the years and has won a Grade One this year. Fingers crossed he can show us all what he is capable of.”



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Blazing Khal given go-ahead for Stayers’ Hurdle challenge

Charles Byrnes has given Blazing Khal the go-ahead for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday.

The seven-year-old won back-to-back Grade Two novice prizes at Prestbury Park in the autumn of 2021, but missed the rest of the season through injury and did not ultimately not return for 14 months.

An impressive comeback in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan in mid-February catapulted Blazing Khal to the head of the Stayers’ Hurdle market, but Byrnes later revealed his stable star had returned with a “a few bits of nicks” that required treatment.

However, while his preparation has clearly not been ideal, Byrnes confirmed Blazing Khal will take his chance in a race the County Limerick handler won with Solwhit 10 years ago.

He said on Friday: “He worked at the Curragh earlier this week. We decided against taking him back there today as we felt it would be counter-productive.

“But I had a chat with the owner this morning and we decided we’re going to run him.”

Blazing Khal is set to lead a small but select team of five Festival runners for Byrnes along with Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle contender Byker, Coral Cup hopeful Run For Oscar, Pertemps Final favourite Shoot First and Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle runner Grozni.

Trainer Charles Byrnes (right) after winning the Stayers' Hurdle with Solwhit
Trainer Charles Byrnes (right) after winning the Stayers’ Hurdle with Solwhit (David Davies/PA)

“I’m bringing five and it looks a nice team,” the trainer added.

“The preparation for all the rest of them has gone very well.

“Soft ground would inconvenience Run For Oscar more so than any of them, I would say, but I’d say it won’t be too bad.”

Blazing Khal is one of 15 horses in Stayers’ Hurdle contention following Friday’s confirmation stage, with France’s Cleeve Hurdle winner Gold Tweet and his compatriot Henri Le Farceur both supplemented at a cost of just under £15,000.

Flooring Porter on his way to winning last year's Stayers' Hurdle
Flooring Porter on his way to winning last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle (Steven Paston/PA)

Flooring Porter will bid for a third successive victory in the race for Gavin Cromwell, Gordon Elliott is set to be represented by Teahupoo and Sire Du Berlais and Willie Mullins still has three in the mix, with Asterion Forlonge, Klassical Dream and Sharjah all standing their ground.

Marie’s Rock is a leading contender for Nicky Henderson, with connections planning to make a late call on whether she will run in Tuesday’s Mares’ Hurdle or take on the boys two days later.

Ashdale Bob (Jessica Harrington), Beacon Edge (Noel Meade), Dashel Drasher (Jeremy Scott), Home By The Lee (Jessica Harrington) and Paisley Park (Emma Lavelle) complete the acceptors.



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Stayers’ Hurdle favourite Blazing Khal suffers minor setback

Charles Byrnes’ Stayers’ Hurdle favourite Blazing Khal has suffered a minor setback ahead of his Cheltenham Festival target.

The seven-year-old returned from a 428-day injury-enforced absence to land the Grade Two Boyne Hurdle at Navan a week ago, a performance that catapulted him to the head of the Stayers’ Hurdle market.

Byrnes reports Blazing Khal has “a few bits of nicks” that require treatment following that run, but is hopeful the issue will not take long to resolve.

Blazing Khal has suffered a minor setback
Blazing Khal has suffered a minor setback (Brian Lawless/PA)

He said: “Blazing Khal had a few bits of nicks and we had him at the beach.

“It happened to the back of a fetlock and we had to put him on antibiotics, having thought he’d be OK without it.

“These things normally clear up after five or six days and we hope by next week to have him on course.

“It is not ideal but we’ve had worse setbacks!”



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Blazing Khal too hot for Boyne Hurdle rivals

Blazing Khal moved to the head of ante-post lists for the Stayers’ Hurdle after making a successful return from from a lengthy absence in the William Hill Boyne Hurdle at Navan.

The Charles Byrnes-trained seven-year-old won a couple of Grade Two novice events at Cheltenham in the autumn of 2021, but a subsequent injury kept him off the track for 428 days.

Byrnes suggested early in the new year his stable star was “50-50 at best” to make this year’s Cheltenham Festival – but having been pleased with his subsequent progress, he allowed him to make his comeback in Grade Two company at Navan.

Under a patient ride from the trainer’s son Philip Byrnes, the seven-year-old moved smoothly into contention from the home turn and shook off any rustiness to pull three lengths clear of the gallant Meet And Greet. Even-money favourite Saint Sam was a little disappointing in fifth.

Blazing Khal after winning at Navan
Blazing Khal after winning at Navan (Gary Carson/PA)

Stayers’ Hurdle sponsors Paddy Power make Blazing Khal a 5-2 joint-favourite for the three-mile hurdling showpiece, along with Teahupoo. Coral cut the winner’s odds to 3-1 from 5-1.

Byrnes said: “It’s relief really with the young fella riding him and all. I thought he gave him a lovely ride and he settled grand for him.

“He’s definitely a very good horse. He was working well and doing a lot of work over the last few weeks. We did expect a big run, he was fairly straight.

“With him it’s day by day, but naturally we’ll be thinking of Cheltenham, of course. We’ve had so many false dawns with him. It’s just been little, niggly problems.

“The timing is not too bad, I suppose. We would have preferred to have him out before now, but it is what it is. We can go to Aintree if we don’t make Cheltenham.”

He added: “He was fairly fit today but naturally with race fitness you’d hope he’d come on again.

“You always have the bounce factor and ideally you’d want a second run, but it is what it is and we’re delighted to get him back.”



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Blazing Khal makes eagerly-awaited return at Navan

Blazing Khal makes his long-awaited return in the William Hill Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.

The Charles Byrnes-trained seven-year-old is three from three over obstacles and beat Gelino Bello in back-to-back Grade Two novice events at Cheltenham in the autumn of 2021.

But while Gelino Bello went on to strike Grade One glory at Aintree, Blazing Khal spent the rest of his novice campaign on the sidelines and has been off the track for over 400 days.

Byrnes said earlier in the new year his stable star was “50-50 at best” to make this year’s Cheltenham Festival, but he is now set to make his comeback in this weekend’s Grade Two contest.

“He’s in good shape and working well – we’re hoping for the best,” he said.

“We’ve had a good run for the last few weeks, so fingers crossed.”

Blazing Khal is a 9-2 shot with the sponsors for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 16, a race Byrnes memorably won with Solwhit 10 years ago.

However, the Ballingarry handler is keen to see how he performs this weekend before making future plans.

He added: “We’re not really looking beyond this weekend, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Gordon Elliott with Delta Work at his yard
Gordon Elliott with Delta Work at his yard (Niall Carson/PA)

Blazing Khal is one of nine runners declared for the Boyne Hurdle, with Gordon Elliott represented by top-weight Sire Du Berlais, Grand Roi and Delta Work, with the latter warming up for his defence of the Glenfarclas Chase at Cheltenham.

Noel Meade has saddled the last two winners of the two-mile-five-furlong contest in Beacon Edge and Thedevilscoachman and Beacon Edge is in the mix once more, as is stablemate Highland Charge.

Dreal Deal (Ronan McNally), Meet And Greet (Oliver McKiernan) and Saint Sam (Willie Mullins) complete the line-up.

On the same card Grade Three honours are up for grabs in the William Hill Ten Up Novice Chase.

Likely contenders for this three-mile heat include Jonathan Sweeney’s Churchstonewarrior, Elliott’s Front Assault, the Mullins-trained Glengouly and Mahler Mission from John McConnell’s yard.

Mahler Mission winning over hurdles at Doncaster
Mahler Mission winning over hurdles at Doncaster (Tim Goode/PA)

The latter won by 10 lengths over the course and distance on his latest appearance and is prominent in ante-post lists for the National Hunt Chase at the Festival in March.

McConnell said: “It looks a competitive race. There doesn’t look to be a superstar in it, but it’s competitive all the same.

“Obviously he’s jumped around the track no problem, so we’re hopeful of a good run.

“That (National Hunt Chase) is the plan. We’re very hopeful that he’ll be competitive in it.”

Elliott saddles three of the 10 runners declared for the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle in American Mike, Imagine and Deeply Superficial.

American Mike, runner-up to Facile Vega in last season’s Champion Bumper, has been off the track since disappointing in the Monksfield Novice Hurdle in November, having missed an intended engagement at last weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival due to a death in the owners’ family.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t run American Mike in Leopardstown the other day. He scoped bad after Navan and there was something wrong with him, so we’ve missed a good part of the season,” said Elliott.

“I was looking forward to running him the other day, but couldn’t due to personal reasons.

“He’s running over two miles on Sunday, which isn’t ideal, but I kind of need to get a run into him because he can be a fresh horse and I just want to knock the freshness off him.”

The Mullins-trained pair of Hunters Yarn and Tactical Move also merit consideration in an intriguing Listed event, as do Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin and Peter Fahey’s The Big Doyen.



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Green light for Irish raider after ferry problems threatened to derail Lanzarote bid

Green Glory is primed to continue his progression in the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle after overcoming travel problems.

The Charles Byrnes-trained Irish raider was a bumper winner at last year’s Punchestown Festival and following some encouraging efforts in defeat in maiden hurdles finally opened his account on handicap debut at Leopardstown over the Christmas period.

That saw the six-year-old head the betting for this competitive affair – but inclement weather interrupting the ferry schedules had put his participation in doubt.

However, having battled the wind and rain, Byrnes reported Green Glory had made it to the Sunbury track safely and he can now look forward to seeing how he gets on in this £100,000 contest.

“He’s OK, he arrived at Kempton at seven o’clock Friday morning,” said Byrnes.

“They took him on the half eight on Thursday night, but they were waiting for an hour and a half at Holyhead going into dock, so instead of the sailing taking three and a half hours it took five hours. Then the drive down was windy enough.

“But he’s there now that’s the main thing and he should have enough time to recover.

“We’re looking forward to the race now, hopefully the ground doesn’t come up heavy, but it is what it is. He has a nice weight, but it is a step up in grade from a novice handicap to an open handicap.

“It’s a nice pot and he’s in good form, so we’ll hope for the best.”

The best of the home contingent could well be Paul Nicholls’ Outlaw Peter, who followed up a second in the Persian War by romping to a 19-length success at Exeter in November.

Outlaw Peter could give Paul Nicholls a fourth win in the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle
Outlaw Peter could give Paul Nicholls a fourth win in the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (David Davies/PA)

“I think he’s got a good chance,” said big-race rider Harry Cobden. “I’m not saying he’s well handicapped, but I think he’s got a good, fair mark and he’s in good form. He could be a horse that might just progress a little bit.

“It’s a big field, so we’ll have to have our wits about us.”

Harry Fry’s Dubrovnik Harry and Alan King’s Greatwood Hurdle third Harbour Lake are others high up in the betting lists, while Dan Skelton has had this race in mind for West Balboa for some time and believes his seven-year-old has a “fair chance” of hitting the target.

He said: “I think she’ll like the track. I’ve had this race in mind for her for a while and I think she has a fair chance.”

Ben Case’s Cobblers Dream will attempt to become the first horse in the race’s history to retain the Lanzarote Hurdle as he reverts to the smaller obstacles.

“He just didn’t jump as well as I would have liked over fences in his first two starts,” said Case.

Kempton Park Races – Saturday 15th January
Cobblers Dream ridden by Jack Quinlan goes on to win the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton Park last year (Steven Paston/PA)

“He hasn’t run badly, he just didn’t run brilliantly and it was either we continue pursuing jumping fences and hope he gets better as he goes along, or go back over hurdles and I thought we would do that and revisit fences if we wanted in the autumn.

“Timing-wise the Lanzarote suited and seemed to fit in if we were to go back over hurdles.

“You couldn’t say he has done badly at the beginning of this season and he obviously did well last year. It’s just we knew we were on an upwards curve last year and whether we have got to our handicap mark or not we’ll find out on Saturday.

“I think it will be quite hard work round there on Saturday, so it’ll be a test for everybody.”

Jane Williams’ string is in fine form and she believes Hermes Boy could be ideally placed if conditions turn testing at the Sunbury track.

She said: “He’s got the right sort of profile for the race and we think he wants a bit more of a trip. He’s had a couple of really nice runs recently, his last two have been super.

“The horses are flying at home, he seems really well and this was always a tentative target for him. We’ve won it a few times in the past and it’s our sort of race really.”

“The conditions are spot on and at the end of the day you can only train your own horse, so if you think the conditions are right then you have to give it a go.

“We’re lucky we just got in at the weights, we’re a bit on the low side and we would prefer to be a bit higher in the weights. But actually, if the ground does come up soft or gets really bad, our horses seem to cope with it and we have a nice weight for dealing with those conditions.”

Meanwhile Joe Tizzard’s Scarface has been foot-perfect this season and looks to seal a hat-trick on his handicap bow.

“We were odds-on for his return and he had to win and then at Ascot last time he did it the hard way,” said Tizzard.

“It didn’t suit him making all and he was dossing and that. He made a mistake at the last and then battled back.

“So he’s done good and we just thought we’d have a crack and see where we are handicap wise.

“I think he’s got a manageable mark and he’ll love the ground. Two-mile-five round there on hard-work ground will be right up his street.”



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Byrnes hoping weather relents in time to get Green Glory to Kempton

Charles Byrnes has his fingers crossed Coral Lanzarote Hurdle favourite Green Glory will be able to line up at Kempton on Saturday despite encountering problems in his efforts to cross the Irish Sea.

The six-year-old heads the market at 9-2 with the sponsors for the ultra-competitive two-mile-five-furlong handicap on the back of opening his hurdles account at Leopardstown over the Christmas period.

But his bid to quickly double his tally over timber has hit a stumbling block with the current inclement weather halting Byrnes’ plans to travel Green Glory on the ferry from Dublin.

He said: “It looks a nice race for him, but our biggest problem at the moment though is travelling.

“We haven’t been able to get on the ferry. We’re going to try again tonight, but I don’t think it’s looking great.

“We’ll try again first thing in the morning and if they don’t take livestock then we won’t be travelling. It’s as simple as that and the biggest problem at the moment. It (the weather) seems to be worse in Holyhead than it is in Dublin.

“We could come over tomorrow but it is cutting it very fine to get settled in and is not ideal. If we can get travelling tomorrow morning we’ll probably come over. If they don’t let us on the half eight though, we won’t be travelling any later than that.”

For now all Byrnes – who has his plane ticket booked to attend Kempton – can do is hope for an upturn in conditions which will allow his progressive hurdler to take his chance.

He continued: “It is what it is and we can’t change that. We’ve got the flight booked and all set to go, so fingers crossed we get travelling.”



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Byrnes rates Blazing Khal as ’50-50 at best’ to make Cheltenham date

Blazing Khal’s chances of lining up in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham are no better than “50-50 at best”, according to trainer Charles Byrnes.

The seven-year-old won all of his three hurdle races last season, with two victories coming at Cheltenham.

He relished the step up to three miles when impressively landing the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park in December 2021.

However, he subsequently suffered a setback and has been sidelined since.

A general 6-1 second favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle, Byrnes was hoping to see Blazing Khal run over Christmas, but has not been able to step up his work.

The son of Kalanisi was given a outing on the sands at Beale Strand on the Shannon Estuary, an hour’s drive from the trainer’s Ballingarry yard, on Sunday.

However, with a trip to the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on February 4 and 5 also ruled out for a belated return, Byrnes admits Blazing Khal’s Cheltenham bid is “probably a long-shot”.

He said: “We are hoping to get a run into him. Cheltenham is still very much in the balance. I would say it is 50-50 at best. We have stuck him in – the entries close tomorrow – but he will not run at the Dublin Festival, either.

“It is probably a long-shot now that he’ll make it to Cheltenham. We are going to try to do our best, anyway. We had him on the beach yesterday, but we have to take baby steps with him. He’s still not doing strong work.”

Byrnes, who won the Stayers’ Hurdle with Solwhit in 2013, will not entertain thoughts of going straight to Cheltenham without a prep run, either.

He added: “There is no way we’d go to Cheltenham without a run. But we are running very tight in time. There are a couple of options – there’s a race at Gowran and a race at Navan after the Dublin Festival.

Charles Byrnes is in a race against time with Blazing Khal
Charles Byrnes is in a race against time with Blazing Khal (Niall Carson/PA)

“But is all getting very tight now. Part of the problem is we don’t really know what the problem is.

“He is not moving as well as we’d like him to, but he’s going to be doing everything now – he’s going to be given every chance, but it is probably 50-50 at best.

“He’ll have entries at Punchestown and in France as well, but Cheltenham is looking tight. It is what it is, people have worse problems.”



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