Aidan O'Brien has admitted that Steinbeck is a doubtful participant in the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas.
The colt has been a leading fancy for the Classic at Newmarket in May at around 10-1.
"Unfortunately Steinbeck has met with a small training setback and won't be at the Curragh this Sunday," the Ballydoyle handler told his website.
"He will probably also miss the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and will hopefully be trained for the Irish 2000 Guineas instead."
Steinbeck was a close fourth in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October after scoring at Naas on his only other start in May.