CHARLES Byrnes has described Blazing Khal’s chances of contesting the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival as “well below 50-50”, with the leading ante-post fancy facing a race against time to bounce back from niggling setbacks.

Nearly 14 months have passed since the talented seven-year-old was last seen in action - landing back-to-back Grade 2 events at Cheltenham in November and December 2021- and he was forced to miss last season’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle due to injury while ante-post favourite.

Despite his prolonged absence, Blazing Khal still finds himself fourth the market with the race sponsors at 6/1, only behind runaway John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle winner Teahupoo (5/2 favourite), Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle scorer Home By The Lee (9/2) and French-trained Cleeve Hurdle winner Gold Tweet (11/2), who needs to be supplemented for the £325,000 prize.

The Co Limerick trainer has not given up hope of getting Blazing Khal to Cheltenham but admits it has not been plain sailing to get a clear run with his stable flagbearer.

Speaking to The Irish Field on Friday, Byrnes said: “We’re still struggling with him. I would say that it’s gone well below 50-50 at this stage. Look, there are a couple of options to get a run into him somewhere.

“We could look at the Boyne Hurdle at Navan [on February 12th] or the Red Mills Trial Hurdle over two miles at Gowran [on February 18th], but we are struggling a bit. You’d have to say it’s definitely less than 50-50 anyway.

“We’re getting no sort of a break at all but we’ll keep going with him.

“We’re not giving up hope but at this stage we’d just be happy to get him back on the track. We wouldn’t go straight to Cheltenham.”