Melbourne Cup runner-up Heartbreak City has finished midfield in his return in a hurdle at Leopardstown.
Sent out favourite in Sunday's race, the Tony Martin-trained Heartbreak City looked a threat coming to the last jump but failed to muster a challenge.
The race was won by the Noel Meade-trained Ice Cold Soul from Heartbreak City's stablemates Tudor City and Golden Spear.
Martin said he and the owners would consider options including the long distance race on Dubai World Cup night in March or a race at the Cheltenham festival.