WITHOUT even running, Blazing Khal has been subject of much speculation for much of the season but in the Grade 2 William Hill Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday, the seven-year-old affirmed what a talented horse he is on an excellent day for the Byrnes family.

The son of Kalanisi hadn’t been seen since December ‘21 when he easily dispatched of subsequent Grade 1 scorer Gelino Bello in a three-mile Grade 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham. Impressive as that was, he was still only rated 147 and was reappearing here off a 428-day break so the task at hand was brisk.

He always travelled strongly and jumped efficiently for Philip Byrnes, settled in second last of the eight-runner field. The pair started to make ground just before the turn in, and came in between runners in the straight, eventually arriving up beside Meet And Greet at the last, before kicking on and maintaining a three-length advantage to the line.

“With the young fella riding him, it was a relief really,” Charles Byrnes said. “I thought he gave him a lovely ride and the horse settled great for him. We expected a big run. He had been working well and was doing a lot of work over the last few weeks.

“Naturally, race fitness will bring him on but he was fairly straight today. We’ll be looking at Cheltenham but with a horse like him, you just take it day by day. Ideally you would like to have had another run, just with the bounce factor, but it is what it is.

“If we missed Cheltenham, we could look at Aintree. We’re just delighted to have him back.”

Blazing Khal was installed as the new Stayers’ Hurdle favourite following his comeback win, ranging from prices as short as 2/1 to 3/1.

Later on the card, Temptationinmilan made it an even better day for Charles and Philip Byrnes, and Flor McCarthy, brother in law to the trainer who also owns half of Blazing Khal.

The seven-year-old has been very consistent this season, recording one win and three seconds coming into this three-mile contest.

He was ridden prominently, took it up at the third last and then fought valiantly to hold off the challenge of Galon De Vauzelle to win by a short head.

JONATHAN Sweeney enjoyed the biggest win of his training career when Churchstonewarrior fought off the challenges of Mahler Mission and Flanking Maneuver to win the Grade 2 William Hill Ten Up Novice Chase.

The eight-year-old gelding has been thoroughly consistent and came into this contest off the back of four seconds in a row, the most notable of which was his most recent start, when finding only Gaillard Du Mesnil too good in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown.

He was ridden by Aidan Coleman there and again here, with the Cork native jockey keeping him to the inside throughout this three-mile contest. He took it up at the third last and stayed on very strongly from here to see off his main market rival, with Flanking Maneveur putting up a big performance in third, given this was his chase and seasonal debut.

The front two were cut into prices ranging between 6/1 and 10/1 for the National Hunt Chase, though Sweeney wasn’t fully committed to that target when asked.

“We’ll talk to the owners and we’ll just see how he comes out of this,” the trainer said. “He is a horse who takes a while to warm up but he gallops away and he keeps on improving. You would imagine he could be a National type horse in time.

“When Aidan rode him the last day, he got off him and said, ‘lads you might not have a horse until next year, he is still immature.’ I know he’s eight but they’re all different, aren’t they?

“This is brilliant. I’m delighted for the owners, a great bunch of lads. They were getting a fair bit of money for him last year, and he was vetted and he was to be sold, but they eventually decided to hold on to him. Fair play, they’re gutsy men.”

There was a dramatic ending to the Meath Farm Machiney Handicap Hurdle where long-time leader Indie Belle made a bad error at the final flight, which opened the door for a scurry of late challengers.

Wa Wa was the one who finished best for Bryan Cooper, Dermot McLoughlin and the Seven Figures Partnership.

The eight-year-old was scoring for the first time over hurdles, which is a surprise given how low his mark is compared to his chase assessment. He should have plenty of options over hurdles and fences going forward.

WILLIE Mullins already had a strong squad of novice hurdlers assembled for the Cheltenham Festival but he unearthed two more for the team at Navan on Sunday when both Hunters Yarn and Ho My Lord impressed their trainer.

Hunters Yarn continued a fine run for his owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, whose runners are operating at a 35% strike rate in Ireland this season, when he took the Listed I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle in impressive fashion.

Paul Townend tracked American Mike throughout the two-mile contest and though his partner was sketchy at a couple of jumps, he improved in this department as the race went on, most notably when asked to take up the running at the third last. He got in tight at the last but it didn’t overly stop his momentum and kept going to the line to hold off Imagine by six lengths.

“He didn’t jump as fluently as I thought he would but he had a nice turn of foot,” the champion trainer said. “I think he’s possibly Supreme Novice Hurdle bound if the owners want to go there. I’m not sure that he stays, we tried him over a longer trip last year, and I’m not sure he is up to that. He is going to make a very smart novice chaser next year I think.”

Ho My Lord was the subject of a significant gamble for a Leopardstown maiden hurdle over Christmas but departed early. He was sent off odds-on to make amends in the second division of the Navan Ford & Opel Maiden Hurdle and travelled strongly on his way to a comfortable five-length win over Banjaxed.

“He got his confidence quick back after his fall at Christmas,” Mullins said. “He jumped high over the first few but then came down and started to hurdle rather than jump, which was better.

“The further he was going, the better he was going. He is in the Ballymore and I think he has the ability to go. He showed he jumped well enough today.”

Elliott double

Gordon Elliott also completed a double with a pair of young horses, kickstarting the day with Firm Footings in the first division of the maiden hurdle.

The Caldwell Construction-owned gelding led after the second hurdle for Jordan Gainford. He was let down by his jumping on occasion, particularly at the second last but he stayed on strongly to the line from here to repel the challenge of the favourite Horantzau D’Airy, who might have been done for fitness at that stage considering it was his first start in 411 days.

It was the winner’s fourth run over hurdles so he qualifies for a Cheltenham Festival handicap hurdle now, which Elliott suggested was on the cards for him.

The well-backed Firefox took the last for Bective Stud.The son of Walk In The Park improved from his midfield position early in the straight before taking it up at the furlong pole and pulling 10 lengths clear from Gavin Cromwell’s Mint Boy, who made a pleasing debut in second.

Firefox can’t run in the Champion Bumper as he has a run over hurdles already so Elliott may look for an option at Fairyhouse over Easter or Punchestown, though he was of the opinion he’ll be much better equipped next season.