Surprise Martell Grand National entry Celibate is far from certain to be in the line-up for the Aintree marathon on April 8th.
The Charlie Mann-trained gelding has never raced beyond 17 furlongs over fences but is due to be stepped up in trip at Cheltenham on Saturday.
"I don't think he'll run in the National," Mann said today. "He looks as though he could be nearly top-weight at Aintree and he's not big enough to carry that sort of weight."
Explaining the big-race entry, Mann went on: "He runs over two miles, five furlongs at Cheltenham on Saturday and they say you need a two-and-a-half-mile horse for the National and the horse does jump well.
"The National is an option but we might wait until next year."
Celibate finished a five-and-a-quarter-length third to Nordance Prince and Flagship Uberalles at Ascot last time, when in receipt of 16lb from the runner-up.
And with future plans in mind for Celibate, Mann is keen to avoid a clash with Flagship Uberalles at level weights.
He said: "I'm favouring running Celibate in the Mitsubishi Shogun Ascot Chase but Flagship Uberalles might go there and, although Celibate ran a very good race last time, he was getting lumps of weight from Paul's (Nicholls) horse.
"If he doesn't go to Ascot then if it's soft he could go for a repeat in the Game Spirit - Flagship Uberalles won't run in both races."
Whatever his fate next time Celibate could be on his travels this spring.
Mann added: "If he misses the National then he'll go for the Mumm Melling Chase at Aintree but if he gets an invitation for the race in Japan (Nakayama Grand Jump) on April 15th he won't be running at Aintree."
