Coneygree has returned to walking and trotting, with big-race partner Nico de Boinville left to wonder how he would have fared against a competitive line-up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup this year.
A sensational winner of the blue riband last season as a novice, he will not be defending his Festival crown due to injury.
While he has had a couple of setbacks this season which have ruled him out, he did make the track once at Sandown where he looked better than ever in strolling to victory, making his absence all the harder to bear for connections.
De Boinville said: "I spoke to Sara (Bradstock) last night actually and she said she rode him out yesterday (Wednesday) and that he is walking and trotting.
"Fingers crossed he will come back to a level that he left really.
"It looks a very open and tough race this year and it would be very interesting to see where he would be among that lot."