MAX Dynamite is likely to take a step down in distance in a bid to retain his Lonsdale Cup crown at York in August.

Although looking to come with a good run in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old was left short of room at a crucial stage after being snatched up on the inside rounding the home turn of the Group 1 prize.

While the result was inconclusive as to whether the Rich Ricci-owned gelding stayed the marathon two-and-a-half-mile trip, a drop back down to two miles for the Group Two prize on the Knavesmire now looks to be on the cards.

Ricci said: "He travelled really well. We went down the inside of the winner. It was a gamble. He might have been a bit too far back and I thought we might have been a bit handier.

"That being said, Pat (Smullen) didn't think he stayed. I don't know if that is the case, but we will probably drop him back to two miles again. The Lonsdale Cup is the next stop I reckon."

Having finished second in last year's Melbourne Cup, a trip Down Under may again be on Max Dynamite's agenda later in the season should he perform well on his next start.

Ricci said: "It depends on what kind of weight he gets and how he runs. You hate to think, as one can do sometimes, that last year was his day and that we are on a downward curve as his two runs have been disappointing.

"I'd say we would give him time off, freshen him up and see how he is. If he performs well in the Lonsdale Cup, we will probably go back."