Waiting Patiently and Vinndication, both holding big cards in the Day Three features in under ten days time will in fact miss the Cheltenham Festival, with their respective trainers eyeing other future targets.
Waiting Patiently - who was due to run in the Ryanair Chase will now not run for Ruth Jefferson, despite the forecast of plenty of rain in the lead-up to next week's festival.
The 8yo finished as the runner-up behind Cyrname in the Ascot Chase last month; albeit a good seventeen lengths down, and was priced no bigger than 10/1 for the Grade One chase on the Thursday.
Owner Richard Collins is happy to be 'patient', and suggests that Aintree or Punchestown could be his star's next calling points.
There are also options to head to Auteuil in France for the Prix La Barka in May, or perhaps even the French Champion Hurdle in June, which would come as a surprise considering the fact he has spent the season chasing.
(Credit: Racing Post) Collins said: "He does need time between his races, so he will definitely miss Cheltenham.
"That's the decision we have made as we feel it will come just too quickly for him after his Ascot run. We know we will get his ground there [in France] either in May or June and he won't run on ground like Ascot again.
"Willie Mullins has done well in the French races, including with such as Un De Sceaux. We'll look at Aintree first for his next race, and there's Punchestown as well," he said.
The news was shortly followed by Grade Two-winning chaser Vinndication's omission from what would have most likely have been the JLT Novices Chase - also on Day Three at the Cheltenham Festival.
Trainer Kim Bailey announced plans to scrap his entries after a displeasing racecourse gallop at Newbury on Sunday, for the 6yo who also held a card to play in the RSA Novices Chase on the Wednesday.
Unbeaten in four novice hurdle starts, he began his debut chasing campaign with two wins before a unique set of tactics saw him part company with his unbeaten record at Sandown, when being defeated by Defi Du Seuil in the Scilly Isles.
Bailey stated that Vinndication will be now be aimed at targets later in the campaign.
(Credit: Racing Post) He said: "We took Vinndiation to Newbury early yesterday morning and sadly I was not happy with the way he went, so Cheltenham for him this year will be missed.
"It's so frustrating for all his owners but he's still a weak and immature horse and it's showing. There will be other big days for him."
"There's no injury to speak of and he should be back later in the season. He worked fine but he was not 100 per cent and you can't go to Cheltenham if you're not 100 per cent," he finished.