Navan next for Kazal

Kazal will head to Navan on February 17, where he is likely to renew rivalry with Earth Magic and Sweet Kiln in the McCabe Builders Boyne Hurdle.

The Eoin Griffin-trained seven-year-old finished third behind that Michael Bowe-trained pair in a Grade Three event earlier in the week, having been switched back to timber after initially failing to take to the bigger obstacles.

Griffin said: “He’s fine, but I was a little bit surprised as Barry (Geraghty) thought he was going to win jumping the second-last and he just ran out of steam.

“I suppose in hindsight it was his first completed run in 10 months and he will probably come on a lot for it.

“Barry wasn’t over-hard on him once he was beaten and he’ll go for the Boyne Hurdle now at Navan.

“He’s probably going to meet the Bowe pair again, but we’ll have a better idea after that as to where we stand with him.”