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The unbeaten Marine Nationale may swerve a planned reappearance at Navan and wait for Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival.

Owned and trained by Barry Connell, the six-year-old recorded back-to-back Grade 1 victories in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, defeating hot favourite Facile Vega. 

Marine Nationale was set to make his chasing debut at Naas next weekend, but ground conditions may not be suitable. 

"I won't run him at Navan if the ground is like this," said Connoll.

"He's ground dependent and I might wait until Leopardstown at Christmas. I don't want to give him a grueller at the start of the season.

"He's a light-framed horse and he'd be lost on that ground today.

"If we have to wait until Leopardstown at Christmas that's fine, as he went to Cheltenham last year on the back of two runs, so that's not a big issue.

"There is a two mile and one [furlong] beginners at Leopardstown and then he could go to the Dublin Racing Festival and Cheltenham."