Bobs Worth © Photo Healy Racing
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth will confirm a first start in Ireland in the Lexus Chase provided he pleases in a final exercise at the end of this week.
Trainer Nicky Henderson wants the gelding to have a busier time than last season - where he ran only twice - but Bobs Worth must show more sparkle than on his reappearance in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.
The 15/8 favourite never looked happy from some way out and was eventually eased home in sixth place of the eight runners, some 40 lengths behind the winner Cue Card.
Malcolm Kimmins, head of the syndicate of owners The Not Afraid Partnership, said: "I think he probably will be declared for the Lexus Chase in the latest forfeit stage on Thursday.
"I think he will do a piece of work at the weekend and we'll take it from there, but at the moment it's looking like he'll be running."
The Lexus, the feature event of the Leopardstown Christmas meeting, is staged on December 28 and has been claimed by British horses Synchronised and Tidal Bay for the last two years.
Another of the partnership's horses with Henderson, Chatterbox, will be out even sooner.
He was fourth to The New One at the Cheltenham Festival and a satisfactory second on his comeback in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury.
Kimmins said: "I think he'll be running in The Ladbroke (Ascot, Saturday)."
