Enda Bolger had no complaints after Ballyoisin was beaten comfortably by Cilaos Emery in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork on Sunday.
Having won the Fortria Chase for a second successive season on his penultimate outing, hopes were high he could follow up in the Grade Two.
However, he had no answer to Willie Mullins' lightly-raced winner, who has now won six of his 10 starts and is unbeaten over fences.
"We just weren't good enough, we were beaten by a very smart horse," said Bolger.
"We don't have any complaints. He'll have a break now and come back in the spring, when he seems to fire. We were just beaten by a better horse.
"He goes well at Navan because they have more fences there and jumping has always been his forte, and it's stiffer than Cork, but I think you'll hear a lot more of the winner - he's unbeaten over fences and he could be a Queen Mother horse."
