Kemboy is set for another tilt at the WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup rather than revert to hurdles at next month's Festival.
Trainer Willie Mullins raised the possibility of the nine-year-old tackling timber for the first time since April 2017 in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle following his hard-fought victory in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.
However, the intention is to stick to the larger obstacles and take a third crack at steeplechasing's flagship event on March 19, for which Kemboy is generally available at 12/1.
The four-time Grade One winner's two previous attempts in the Gold Cup haven't been plain sailing, unseating rider at the very first fence when sent off an 8/1 chance in 2019, before a well-held seventh behind stablemate Al Boum Photo at the same odds last spring.
Mullins said: "Kemboy hasn't a great record in Cheltenham and I think that could be down to me and a bit of bad luck. The first year he ran he fell at the first, and last year for some reason I told Patrick (Mullins, jockey) not to make it (the running) as Patrick wanted to make it.
"I can't remember the reason why I told him but Patrick feels that was the reason he disappointed last year.
"I think he should go for the Gold Cup with different riding instructions - I'll have to have a word with myself!
"We'll see about who is going to ride him in the Gold Cup but I think the idea would be to be more forward this year."
