Monday 16 February 2015 10:55, UK
First Lieutenant is in line for the Crabbie's Grand National after ultimately trailing home in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown.
The Mouse Morris-trained 10-year-old has been ever-present in some of the National Hunt calendar's top staying prizes for the last few seasons, but recent efforts suggest his talents may be on the wane.
He was well beaten at Down Royal on his seasonal reappearance and in the Lexus Chase over Christmas prior to his recent effort, in which he showed up for a long way before tiring in the closing stages, and Morris is keen to freshen him up for a trip to Aintree in the spring.
He said: "I think we'll probably go straight to the National with him now. I think he's probably more of a handicapper these days than that (Grade One) sort of level.
"He's had a lot of hard races over the years and he's a horse who gives himself a hard race every time.
"He won't go to Cheltenham this year. We'll cheer him up and look to Aintree with him. It will be interesting to see what mark he gets."
First Lieutenant is a 33/1 chance with Sky Bet for the National.
Another member of the Morris string who has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival is Rule The World.
The eight-year-old looked a top-class prospect when runner-up behind The New One at Prestbury Park a couple of years ago, but suffered a fractured pelvis the following month and has not quite managed to reach the same levels since.
He is yet to score in three outings over fences this season and finished down the field in the Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
Morris said: "He ran a reasonable race up to the last fence the other day, but a lot of mine haven't been getting home of late and he was the same.
"You have to remember he's fractured his pelvis twice now and it takes time for them to get over things like that.
"He won't be going to Cheltenham, but he might go to the Festivals at Fairyhouse and Punchestown in the spring."
