Rubi Light could drop down to two miles next season after finding his stamina stretched too far on heavy ground at Punchestown on Saturday.
Robbie Hennessy will consider putting the seven-year-old over the minimum trip at some stage next winter if conditions are suitable.
Winner of the Grade One John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase over two and a half miles in December, Rubi Light found the extra five furlongs beyond his reach when fourth to China Rock in thetote.com Punchestown Gold Cup.
Although Rubi Light is effective with plenty of cut in the ground, the longer distance was just too much in the gruelling conditions.
"I'd say it was a combination of the three-mile-one on that ground and Andrew (Lynch) just felt he was a little bit dead in himself. It's been a long season for him," said the County Meath handler.
"He's been out in the paddock with Sublimity. He'll be out there for a few hours every day and then he will be out at grass for the next three months.
"Looking at the race the other day, we'll probably bring him back to two and a half. We probably won't even be afraid to drop him back to two miles at some point next season if need be.
"We'll see how we get on and when the time comes see what the ground is like."
