Hennessy winner Many Clouds will not be running in the Lexus Chase and is likely to reappear for a Gold Cup trial in the new year.
Trainer Oliver Sherwood has narrowed down his options to two races after taking him out of the Leopardstown feature on 28 December.
It will either be Cheltenham on Trials Day for the Argento Chase on 24 January or the Denman Chase at Newbury on 7 February.
"He's just doing routine canters at the moment," said Sherwood.
"I've not yet had chance to have a real lengthy chat with Mick Meagher (owner Trevor Hemmings' racing manager) about where we go next.
"We've taken him out of the Lexus, so that is out of the equation now.
"My gut feeling is that he'll either go to Cheltenham for the Argento or Newbury for the Denman in the hope of putting him spot-on for Cheltenham in March."
