Grands Crus misses Argento

Unbeaten novice chaser Grands Crus will miss Saturday's Argento Chase at Cheltenham after connections decided to sidestep the Grade Two heat.

The seven-year-old grey impressed when winning the Feltham Chase at Kempton over Christmas, and trainer David Pipe had been mulling a step up to full company this weekend.

However, Grands Crus will now not line up in the Cheltenham contest, for which he was the ante-post favourite.

Pipe revealed: "He does not run on Saturday.

"We've decided we don't want to give him a hard race with Cheltenham just around the corner in March."

Grands Crus proved second only to Big Buck's in the staying hurdle ranks last term and has made quite an impression since switching to fences.

A 10-length winner on his debut at Cheltenham, he then claimed a Newbury Grade Two before going on to success at Kempton.

Pipe is now considering a Festival prep run at Newbury on 11 February, although he will not be taking on Long Run in the Betfair Denman Chase.

He said: "He could run at Newbury on 11 February, Betfair Trophy day, in a three-mile novice chase, not in the Denman.

"The horse is absolutely fine, though, we just decided not to run."

Grands Crus is a best-priced 7-2 favourite for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham, but he is also as low as 6-1 with some firms for the Gold Cup itself.

Pipe has previously stated the Gold Cup entry is a genuine option, but connections are in no hurry to commit to either event.