Shotgun Paddy has been confirmed an intended starter in the Betfred Eider Chase at Newcastle on February 21.
Emma Lavelle's eight-year-old, who was well fancied for the Welsh National before an early mistake cost him any chance, bounced back to form when third in the Classic Chase at Warwick last time out.
He has also been given an entry in the Crabbie's Grand National but Dan Downie, racing manager for Shotgun Paddy's owners, the Axom syndicate, feels that may come a year too soon.
"He'll definitely go to Newcastle next," said Downie.
"It was pleasing he put his Chepstow experience behind him last time. We all left Chepstow a little deflated as it had been his plan for so long and it went wrong so early.
"He ran really well again at Warwick, though, on what was really his first proper run of the season as his hurdles run was a bit of a non-event.
"We've given him an Aintree option in the National but we still feel that unless it is very soft ground it might be a year too soon.
"We put him in in case there was a deluge but recent history suggests it won't be that soft so we'll probably wait a year."
