Star de Mohaison won the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at CheltenhamAnte-post favourite Star De Mohaison will not line up for Saturday's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.
Owner Sir Robert Ogden and trainer Paul Nicholls have decided to miss the race, and he may also bypass the King George as they target the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
"It is a decision they have taken together," said Ogden's racing manager Barry Simpson.
"We all agree he is a very good horse and we want to give him time to develop into a possible Gold Cup horse."
Star de Mohaison won the Royal & SunAlliance Chase for novices at the 2006 Cheltenham Festival.
The gelding, who has won four of his six starts over fences, is set to race next in the Future Stars Chase at Sandown on 1 December.
"He is then likely to take in one of the trial races after Christmas - it is most unlikely at this stage that he will run in the King George," said Simpson.
"We will be looking towards something like the Cotswold Chase or the Aon Chase."
Cornish Rebel tops the list of 27 horses confirmed for Newbury's feature race ar the five-day stage.
Paul Nicholls' nine-year-old is set to shoulder top weight of 11st 12lb in the 3m 2f event, with stablemate Neptune Collonges next on 11st 10lb.
Evan Williams has left in State Of Play, who is due to make his seasonal reappearance, while the well-backed Turpin Green stands his ground along with other fancied contenders such as Montgermont, Idle Talk and Copsale Lad.