Trainer Colm Murphy is targeting the spring festivals with Empire Of Dirt following his big-race triumph at Leopardstown earlier this month.
A faller in last season's Irish Grand National, the nine-year-old was a good winner of the valuable Leopardstown Handicap Chase on his latest outing and could be part of what is likely to be a formidable team for owners Gigginstown House Stud bound for Cheltenham in March.
Murphy said: "He's in very good form and came out of Leopardstown bouncing.
"I'm not 100% certain where we'll go with him at this stage.
"He'll get a few entries in Cheltenham - that and Aintree would look the obvious targets for him.
"I'd say it's very unlikely he'll run before then, with the way the ground is."
