Trainer Colin Tizzard confirmed Cue Card will head straight for the Cheltenham Gold Cup following his thrilling victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.
The nine-year-old got up on the line to deny Irish raider Vautour by a head in a scintillating renewal of the esteemed Grade One.
His trainer is now keen to give Cue Card a break before preparing him for a tilt at the blue riband in March.
The Dorset handler said: " He had a hard race. He trotted out fine this morning, but we won't run again (before the Gold Cup).
"He's had three quick-ish races and it's only just over two months (until Cheltenham), anyway."
Having landed the Betfair Chase at Haydock before his King George triumph, Cue Card will pick up a cool £1million bonus if he can complete the hat-trick in the Gold Cup.
Tizzard said : " When they put the money up I thought it was an impossible task, but it's getting closer.
"If we win a King George and a Gold Cup that would be something to live on for the rest of my life, anyway.
"We've all seen Cue Card making all (of the running) in the Ryanair and bolting up, but this is a completely different horse now."
The only sour note to a magnificent race was the fact winning jockey Paddy Brennan was handed an 11-day suspension and fined £4,200 for using his whip above the permitted level, while Vautour's rider Ruby Walsh was also banned for two days.
"I hope the whip thing doesn't take over from what was a fantastic race," Tizzard told At The Races.
"The two jockeys involved got caught up in the excitement and broke the rules and ended up having a fine and a ban.
"He's been out this morning, there's not a mark on him - he's absolutely A1."