Griffin upbeat over Kazal

Irish trainer Eoin Griffin is hoping Kazal will prove himself as good as ever at Gowran next week after appearing amongst 36 entries for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

Third in last year's race, the eight-year-old disappointed on both starts in November forcing Griffin to give his charge a mid-season break.

However, he is on course to return to action in the Galmoy Hurdle and the trainer believes victory there could encourage him to then send the horse straight to Cheltenham.

"The Ladbrokes World Hurdle is on the agenda for Kazal at the moment," said Griffin. "He's in good form and we have been happy with his preparation for the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park next week, in which he came third last year.

"His run in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle (on November 30) was disappointing and so we decided to give the Christmas races a skip.

"We've changed a few things with him, including his training schedule, and are very happy with him now.

"We'll see how he gets on in the Galmoy Hurdle and I would have a preference to send him straight to Cheltenham afterwards. Hopefully, he can win at Gowran Park in a comfortable fashion and that would give us the confidence to go straight to The Festival."

Kazal finished just eight lengths behind Inglis Drever last March and Griffin now has the belief that his charge can improve to bring home the trophy this time around.

"He's always been a horse who I have held in high regard and he was a very smart novice.

"The one regret I have with his novice season that he didn't go to The Festival but we never thought that he would handle good ground.

"He's an out and out stayer who doesn't really have the ability to quicken, so we kept him on a softer surface.

"I thought that he was going to win the Ladbrokes World Hurdle last season coming round the bend but Inglis Drever and Kasbah Bliss were able to quicken past him."

A high-quality entry also features Nicanor, the only horse to beat Denman, and Mighty Man, both of whom are set to return from injury in the near future.

Chasers Tidal Bay, Big Buck's and Nenuphar Collonges have all been given entries, along with former Champion Hurdle winners Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca.