Tom Taaffe is hoping to prepare both Treacle and Cane Brake for a crack at the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree next April.

Treacle looked an early contender for top staying honours when winning the Munster National last month but he suffered a luckless run in the Troytown Chase at Navan on Sunday.

The eight-year-old was hampered at the first fence and Taaffe admits it was too big an ask to recover lost ground in testing conditions.

"He was nearly brought down twice at the first and got knocked all over," said Taaffe.

"That put him a long way behind and in that ground it was always going to difficult to get back on terms.

"In the circumstances he did well to finish sixth. He'll have a break now and we'll prepare him for a shot at Aintree in April."

Cane Brake has not run over fences since finishing third in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown last Christmas.

The 10-year-old has had two starts over hurdles so far this term and Taaffe plans to stick with the smaller obstacles for the immediate future.

"Cane Brake will stay hurdling for the minute as he is rated 30lb lower than over fences," added Taaffe.

"He was a bit unlucky to only finish third the other day and he flew at the finish.

"I think there is a nice hurdle prize or two to pick up with him, then we will go back over fences with Aintree the aim."

Taaffe is also still aiming at the big prizes with Glenfinn Captain despite his distant fourth in the Clonmel Oil Chase last week.

Glenfinn Captain won the race in 2008 but Taaffe believes events conspired against him in his bid to retain the title.

He added: "He was just too free. They didn't go very quick and in the heavy ground you can't run with the choke out.

"He's got a couple of options, the Hilly Way Chase at Cork and possibly the Dial-A-Bet at Leopardstown over Christmas."