Trainer Harry Fry remains open to the idea of sending his star novice hurdler Neon Wolf to the Punchestown Festival.

Following three hugely impressive displays earlier this season, the six-year-old was widely considered as one of the bankers of the week at Cheltenham last month, but came off second-best after a titanic tussle with the front-running Willoughby Court in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.

Fry decided against entering his charge at Aintree this week and Neon Wolf will either head to Ireland or be given a summer break.

"He will maybe go to Punchestown, but we will just see how things pan out," said the Seaborough-based trainer.

"If he runs, Punchestown would be the only place he would go."