A shot at back-to-back Grafton Cups is the preferred option for trainer Ciaron Maher with Mr O'Ceirin.

Mr O'Ceirin, who was well beaten in the Caloundra Cup at the weekend, is nominated for Saturday's Queensland Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm but the gelding will bypass that race with Maher saying the Grafton Cup is the stayer's likely next start.

"It looks pretty dry and it might be a chance of rain as we get closer to Grafton," Maher said.

The $150,000 Grafton Cup (2350m) is on Thursday week and Mr O'Ceirin won last year's race by a long neck over Yulalona.

Mr O'Ceirin is most effective on rain-affected going.

The six-year-old was beaten 14 lengths in the Caloundra Cup in his fifth start of his Queensland winter carnival campaign.

Maher, meanwhile, said star steeplechaser Bashboy had come through his 10-length win in Sunday's Thackeray Steeplechase well and should take improvement into his next outing in the Crisp Steeplechase on Sunday week.

Bashboy has won the Crisp Steeplechase the past two years.

"Next start he drops to set weights too with 69 kilos, so he goes from carrying 72 on Sunday to 69 next start," Maher said.

Maher has nominated Moudre, winner of a maiden hurdle on Sunday at Warrnambool, for a 2000-metre flat race on Saturday at Caulfield but has pencilled in the Grand National Hurdle on Sunday week as the gelding's next start.

Recent stable recruit Marksmanship will have his second start for Maher in Saturday's 2000-metre handicap at Caulfield after winning at Cranbourne on June 22 over 1600m with 59.5kg.

"Up to the 2000 metres should suit him, he'll be down in weight and hopefully he can get another one," Maher said.