Menorah could bid to redeem his reputation at the Punchestown Festival.

Philip Hobbs' six-year-old was sent off the 3-1 second favourite in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday but could only finish fifth behind Hurricane Fly.

Hobbs is not convinced last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner gave his true running and as long as everything is fine with the horse, a trip across the Irish Sea beckons.

"I feel that he hasn't run his normal race," said Hobbs.

"Usually when he runs at Cheltenham he comes off the last bend staying on very well.

"This time when he got to the last bend he weakened.

"I think we'll be testing him this week to see if we can find anything amiss and providing he's all right I think he'll be going to Punchestown as it's in May this year so we've got plenty of time.

"I wouldn't really want to send him over two and a half miles at Aintree just yet, although I'm sure he'd stay in time," the Minehead handler told At The Races.