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 claimed that his stable star had returned with a "a few bits of nicks" that required treatment.
However, 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 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.
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.
Shishkin leads the way among 12 confirmations for the Ryanair Chase.
Nicky Henderson worked his magic to get the nine-year-old back to his brilliant best at Ascot last month where he produced a scintillating display.
He was pulled up in the Champion Chase 12 months ago when it later transpired he was suffering from a rare bone condition, and was then beaten on his return in the Tingle Creek, after which he underwent wind surgery.
However, just like he did with Sprinter Sacre a few years ago, the master of Seven Barrows has seemingly coaxed back to his best ahead of his return to the Festival next week.
Henderson told Unibet: "It was great and everyone was very kind at Ascot, but to compare it with Sprinter's comeback was a bit much as he’d only actually had two misses.
"If you go back to the Clarence House last year and that wonderful race with Energumene, he was flat out the whole way, at the second last we looked beaten fair and square but then his stamina turbo kicked in."
French Dynamite, Ga Law, Blue Lord and Envoi Allen are among Shishkin’s potential rivals.
Gordon Elliott’s hot favourite Mighty Potter is among 14 left in the first race on day three of the Festival – the Turners Novices’ Chase.
Hugely impressive over fences to date, he appears to be one of his trainer’s best chances of the week.
Balco Coastal, Banbridge, Sir Gerhard and Stage Star will ensure it is far from a cake walk if they all run, though.
In the Jack de Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Henderson’s Luccia heads the market, with 25 left in.
Magical Zoe will be Henry de Bromhead’s big hope in a race named after his late son.
Surprisingly only 28 remain in the Pertemps Final, in which a maximum field of 24 will go to post.
Elliott has the top three in the weights with Salvador Ziggy, The Bosses Oscar and Maxxum.
There are 38 left in the Magners Plate, with Willie Mullins’ Haut En Couleurs heading the weights, while 35 are still in contention for the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase.
