Jonjo O'Neill has warned that Synchronised is not a certain starter in the Hennessy Gold Cup on Sunday week.
The nine-year-old catapulted himself into the top league when landing the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, and O'Neill immediately pointed to a return trip to Ireland on February 12 for last season's Welsh National winner.
But the trainer told the Daily Mail: "He is taking his time to recover. He always does. As we speak, I would not say he would not be going. He proved (in the Lexus) that he is not just a mudlark but he did put a lot into it and you can tell that now."
O' Neill went on: "There is nothing wrong. I am happy with him but not delighted and he has to really excite me in the next week or so.
"I think the Hennessy is the ideal race for him rather than the Gold Cup but if he is not right there is no point going.
"If he was right for the Gold Cup, he might as well take his chance because there would not be a lot left for him this season."
