Monsignor may sign off his career over timber on Saturday in the Martell Aintree Hurdle if the ground is suitable, trainer Mark Pitman has revealed.
If conditions are on the fast side, the exciting six-year-old will be put away for the season to go over fences next term.
"He could run on Saturday. There's no reason why he shouldn't. We'd certainly only go if the ground was on the easy side," the Upper Lambourn trainer told the Racing Channel.
"Although he came back perfectly well from Cheltenham I would be unwilling to run him on very fast ground again."
Monsignor took his unbeaten run this season to six with an impressive victory in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle at last month's Festival.
Pitman went on: "And if it's genuinely good ground - 'rain' good ground - then he could well run but if we're not at all happy then we'll have no hesitation to put him away for the season and bring him back as a novice chaser.
"He'll certainly go novice chasing next season. That decision has been taken."
Possible serious rivals among the 18 entries for the £100,000-added Martell Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles should Monsignor take up the challenge are Smurfit Champion Hurdle runner-up Hors La Loi III, Dato Star and Theatreworld.
