Identity Thief is "odds-on" to go straight to the Cheltenham Festival without another run.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained six-year-old had been in consideration for the BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday week after having finished second in the Ryanair Hurdle at the Foxrock venue over Christmas.
But connections have indicated the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Fighting Fifth Hurdle winner could now be kept on ice for the Champion Hurdle at the Festival in March.
"I imagine our preference is to go straight to Cheltenham with Identity Thief," Gigginstown's Eddie O'Leary told the Irish Times.
"He had a hard race the last day and it's only a year since he won his bumper.
"I'd say it is odds-on he'll go straight to Cheltenham."