Quito De La Roque has been ruled out of next month's Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The eight-year-old was withdrawn from Sunday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown following a dirty scope and trainer Colm Murphy has since revealed the gelding has a sinus problem.
He has been prescribed a course of antibiotics and with just over a month to go before Cheltenham Murphy has decided to swerve the blue riband, preferring to focus on the Punchestown Festival in April
"We've taken him out as he's got a problem with his sinuses," said Murphy. "He's on a course of antibiotics and we are just hoping it clears up soon.
"Nothing much has gone right with him this season, but at least it might explain his run in the Lexus.
"We'll look to Plan B now and hope to get to Punchestown."