Big Shu© Photo Healy Racing
Big Shu will be campaigned more aggressively this season as trainer Peter Maher considers a winter gameplan for the Cheltenham Festival winner.
The 2013 Glenfarclas Handicap Chase scorer was used sparingly last term as connections plotted a route towards the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree in April.
But things did not go to plan on Merseyside as Peter Buchanan's partner fell at the third fence.
Big Shu had previously finished third in defence of his cross-country crown, with that race again a likely target next March.
Before that, though, racegoers are likely to see much more of the nine-year-old, who only visited a racecourse three times last season.
County Kildare-based Maher said: "He's back in training and is grand.
"There was nothing wrong with him after the National, but we just didn't want to risk him at Punchestown.
"The reason he hasn't been out yet is because the ground hasn't been right for him. He needs true winter ground, and hopefully he might get that in the next three weeks or so.
"Last season we trained him for the National and tried to get a low weight on his back. For one reason or another it didn't work out, but we won't be holding him back like that again.
"We'll give him a few races before Christmas, probably, and then give him a bit of a break.
"I'd like to run him back at the Cheltenham Festival again, but we haven't really mapped out a firm plan for him just yet."
