Paul Nolan is looking for answers after a disappointing return to action by star chaser Joncol at Navan yesterday.
Last year's Hennessy hero trailed the field throughout in the Fortria Chase, with a tendency to jump right getting progressively worse.
He was eventually a well-beaten last of four behind Champion Chaser Big Zeb in the two-mile event.
“We are running a few tests today to see what is wrong with him,” said Nolan.
“We have to sort out the jumping to the right as it's an awful habit to get in to. He did it a bit in the Hennessy and Lexus but not to that extent and from the very start yesterday it was noticeable.
“He shows no signs of it at home, where he's as straight as a die, and we're determined to get to the bottom of it.
“The John Durkan is still the plan, which he won last year. He was just not himself yesterday.
“They went a farcical pace in the race and Alain (Cawley) wasn't happy with him even when they were hacking around. From flag fall I was just gobsmacked.
“There is just some little thing niggling him. It doesn't seem to be physical and he ate up this morning. Hopefully we can get to the bottom of it.”
The yard had a better day at Limerick yesterday with Carlowswayback going into many notebooks with an impressive performance in the opening maiden hurdle.
The half-brother to Roberto Goldback, making only his second start, cruised to a five-length victory and is set to jump into Grade 1 company on his next outing.
“I was very pleased with him, We called him a nice horse last year and although he ran well in his bumper at Leopardstown we were a bit disappointed.
“You might pick holes in the quality of the race yesterday but he couldn't have won easier and there were a couple of yardsticks in there.
“Hopefully he'll make the step up in grade now and could be a very very nice horse.
“He's entered in the Royal Bond (Fairyhouse 28th November) and we'll probably also enter him in the two-and-a-half mile race at Navan (12th December).”
