Whether the Supreme Horseracing Club-owned Bunk Off Early returns to the Cheltenham Festival is still up in the air.

The roan gelding flopped when well fancied for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last season, but was subsequently found to be suffering from colic.

Bunk Off Early embarked on a novice chasing campaign this season, but after finishing second at Leopardstown over Christmas, he suffered a heavy fall on his latest appearance at Gowran Park and he could revert to the smaller obstacles on his next start.

Racing manager Steve Massey said: "Whether Bunk Off Early travels across or not depends on how he works next week.

"Obviously the plan this season was to go chasing, but unfortunately he had a heavy fall when he looked the likely winner in Gowran last time, so we're thinking of going back over hurdles with him and putting his chasing career on hold until next season.

"He's in a couple of handicaps at Cheltenham, the County Hurdle and the Martin Pipe (Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle), and we think he's on a fairly good mark on 143, but we'll leave it up to Willie to decide whether to put him on the boat or not."

The successful syndicate has had a Cheltenham Festival runner every year since Pique Sous finished third in the 2012 Champion Bumper, but is still searching for its first winner.

"It's been fantastic to have some good runners there and it's just a shame none of of them have managed to get us into the top end of the parade ring since Pique Sous was third in the Champion Bumper," said Massey.

"It just goes to show you how hard it is. It's the Olympics of National Hunt racing and it's where everybody wants to be.

"We're very lucky to have had winners at the big spring festivals at Fairyhouse and Punchestown and obviously Pique Sous won at Royal Ascot, which was fantastic.

"A Cheltenham winner has eluded us so far, as it has a lot of other people, but hopefully we might get on the scoresheet one day."