Does the fact that Kentucky treats parole as 'a matter of grace or gift' exempt parole hearing rules from ex post facto challenges under Garner v. Jones?

I. Does the fact that Kentucky treats parole as “a matter of grace or gift to persons deemed eligibl e” exempt rules relating to the timing of Kentucky parole hearings from ex post facto challenges under Garner v. Jones, 529 U.S. 244 (2000)? II. If not, did the Ex Post Facto Clause prohibit the Kentucky parole board from terminating parole eligibility for an inmate with more than sixty years remaining on his sentence, when the law at the time of his offense required the Board to consider the inmate for parole no less frequently every eight years ?