Sire De Grugy faces a crucial scan next week to determine the full extent of an injury suffered in a workout on Wednesday morning.
The Queen Mother Champion Chase hero was building up towards an intended reappearance in Sunday's Shloer Chase at Cheltenham, but he returned lame following a routine spin on the gallops.
Trainer Gary Moore was happier with his stable star on Thursday morning than he was on Wednesday, but will wait to see the results of a scan next week before making any predictions about when he might return to action.
Moore said: "He's comfortable, and the leg is weight-bearing.
"He ate up last night and he seems a lot more comfortable than he was.
"Whether he's just disguising it or not, I'm not sure.
"We've booked him in for a scan next Wednesday and that will tell us a lot more about where we are."
