Paul Nicholls is considering all possible options for Pacha Du Polder after Victoria Pendleton's intended Cheltenham Festival mount was switched back to his care.
The nine-year-old is set to be ridden by dual Olympic cycling champion Pendleton in the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase at next month's feature and the pair teamed up to be narrowly beaten in a point-to-point at the end of last month.
Pacha Du Polder was handled by Chloe Roddick in the run-up to that race but is now back with Nicholls as the build-up to Cheltenham begins in earnest.
Haydock on February 20 or a race at Ludlow had been floated, but while Nicholls is keen for Pendleton to have a first start over fences on a racecourse proper, he is not convinced Pacha Du Polder needs another prep run.
He said: "I've got to work out where to go with him as he had quite a hard race.
"I've got to find a hunter chase but I don't know where, there are two or three options. He needs to come back to himself, though, as he had quite a tough race and was not 100 per cent ready.
"He could go straight to Cheltenham as he always goes well fresh, it would be good for Victoria to have a ride somewhere but I've not made any plans yet.
"He's down at the other yard and he's back under my care, which was always the plan. If anything had gone wrong, he would have stayed with Chloe in point-to-points.
"If he wants to run in hunter chases, he needs to be under my care for 14 days before he runs."