Racing:Hedgehunter has the Irish Hennessy at Leopardstown on February 10 as his next major target after he missed a run in the Lexus Chase on Thursday.
Willie Mullins hoped to run the 2005 John Smith's Grand National winner in the Christmas Festival showpiece at Leopardstown.
However, the County Carlow handler ruled out the 10-year-old after he failed to shine in the build-up to the Grade One contest.
Mullins said: "He was going to run in the Lexus but he wasn't quite right so I decided to take him out.
"There is nothing seriously wrong but he isn't 100% so we took a pull with him.
"The Irish Hennessy will be his next target, but I don't know whether he will have a run beforehand.
"He will go for the Gold Cup again after that and then back to Aintree for the National."
Runner-up in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and the National last term, Hedgehunter finished a respectable fifth on his seasonal bow over timber last month and is 12-1 joint favourite with Coral for this season's Aintree marathon.