Trainer Mouse Morris says he still has the Ryanair Chase in mind for French Dynamite following his second place in last week's Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles.
The eight-year-old has enjoyed a good season to date, kicking off with a three-length win over hurdles at Thurles, and then finishing the three-quarter-length runner-up to Ga Law in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November.
He followed that by staying in contention for a long way in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas (eventually weakening to finish fifth behind Conflated), before dropping back in trip to chase home Fakir d'Oudairies in Grade Two company at Thurles most recently.
Having settled on the two-and-a-half-mile distance, it now appears that ground conditions could be the determining factor on whether Morris' charge gets a shot at the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival – a race for which he is currently available between 20/1 and 33/1.
"I thought French Dynamite ran a cracker on difficult ground," said Morris.
"He is a good ground horse and I think that distance (two and a half miles) is bang on.
"I have a plan if the ground is good and we'll have to think about something like the Ryanair Chase, but will have a meeting first to decide."
