Connections of Un De Sceaux have their eyes firmly fixed on the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival despite his fall at Leopardstown on Sunday.
The Willie Mullins-trained trailblazer is still a short-priced favourite for the two-mile feature in March, but the recent resurgence of Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy means his task is no longer as straightforward as it looked in the summer.
Un De Sceaux's options before Cheltenham appear to be limited, w ith the Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown in February and Ascot's Clarence House Chase highlighted as obvious possibilities by part-owner Colm O'Connell.
He said: "I've spent half the morning already watching it back, but it is what it is.
"Ruby (Walsh) had just given him a breather, he just needed to get over that fence before he went again, but that's racing.
"If he's all right, and I haven't heard any different, I'd imagine a decision will be made about where next in about a week.
"There aren't many options before Cheltenham, the Tied Cottage and the Clarence House and that's it, unless Willie finds something in France.
"Ruby said he was just too fresh. That's it.
"We've got our eyes on one prize, in March. We've got a genius trainer and I'm sure he'll be 100% on the day.
"When he fell, I ran down from the stands to check he was OK. You get so attached to your horses, I can understand Rich Ricci not watching his. You feel like running them in bumpers for the rest of their careers!
"He must have been 50 lengths behind the front two when he got back up yet he still crossed the line first, that's just the type of horse he is - he always wants to win.
"Flemenstar winning was a nice story, though. The two-mile division this year really has been the story of the comebacks with Sire De Grugy and Sprinter Sacre.
"They look like the two to beat at this stage. If anything, I think the bookies have our lad a bit tight, but I still wouldn't swap him."