Leading fancy Native Upmanship will miss the Tripleprint Gold Cup on Saturday, it was announced today.
Arthur Moore`s seven-year-old was a 6-1 chance with Ladbrokes for the Cheltenham race but will instead run in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase the following afternoon.
Moore also has Lyreen Wonder and More Than A Stroll entered in the Tripleprint.
However, he said: 'Lyreen Wonder will be my only runner in the Tripleprint. Barry Cash will ride.
'Native Upmanship will run at Punchestown and Conor O`Dwyer will take the ride.'
Ireland will also be represented in Saturday`s handicap by Go Roger Go, trained by Edward O`Grady, so long as there are no major problems with his travel arrangements.
The eight-year-old Phardante gelding has finished second on both of his starts this season, most recently in the Poplar Square Chase at Naas last month when beaten four lengths by To Your Honour.
O`Grady said on Monday: 'At the moment Go Roger Go, subject to travel being all right, is a runner. The gales aren`t very good which might affect the shipping, but I`m hopeful to get him there.'
Lambourn-based trainer Mark Pitman revealed that Connor Macleod is likely to take his chance in the Tripleprint.
On his last start Connor Macleod finished fifth in the John Smith`s Hurdle at Wetherby in October, having previously ran a fine third in the Mumm Mildmay Novices` Chase at Aintree in April.
On hearing that Connor Macleod is set to carry 10st 1lb in Saturday`s race, Pitman said: 'He`ll take his chance as 10st 1lb is the perfect racing weight and we`ll hope for the best.
'The problem is that we have been looking for some decent ground - all of his best form is on good to firm. Genuine good ground is fine, but he doesn`t run up to his best on soft ground.
'However, Cheltenham is one of the best tracks for draining quickly and 10st 1lb over two miles and five furlongs is ideal.
'It was unfortunate that it threw down with rain allday when we took him to Wetherby last time and, as we were so far from home, we thought we`d let him run. He`s schooled well at home.'
Venetia Williams intends running Samakaan, winner of last season`s Grand Annual Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, who was cut to 7-1 from 10s with Ladbrokes.
Favourite Exit Swinger was backed down to 5-2 from 7-2 with the same firm today and to 2-1 from 3s with Coral.
The going at Cheltenham is currently described as good to soft, soft in places after just one millimetre of rain overnight.
Ladbrokes: 5-2 Exit Swinger, 6-1 Lyreen Wonder, 7-1 Samakaan, Red Ark, 8-1 Soldat, Go Roger Go, 10-1 Fadalko, 12-1 Upgrade, Red Marauder, 14-1 Robbo, 16-1 Blowing Wind, In The Blood, 20-1 bar.
Coral Eurobet: 2-1 Exit Swinger, 6-1 Red Ark, Samakaan, 7-1 Lyreen Wonder, 8 -1 Soldat, 12-1 Red Marauder, Go Roger Go, 14-1 Connor McLeod, Fadalko, Robbo, 16-1 Upgrade, 20-1 bar
Cashmans: 9-4 Exit Swinger, 6-1 Red Ark, Samakaan, 7-1 Go Roger Go, 8-1 Soldat, Lyreen Wonder, 10-1 Upgrade, 14-1 Or Royal, In The Blood, 16-1 Robbo, 20-1 bar.
