Martin Pipe today, as expected, withdrew his Tote Gold Cup hopeful Gloria Victis from next Wednesday's Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
But the champion trainer also took out Deano's Beeno, who made a winning debut over fences at Newbury last month, and who had been 8-1 with Coral for the staying novice chasers' championship.
The eight-year-old holds an entry in the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle in which he was a disappointing favourite 12 months ago.
However, Pipe is still responsible for four of the 19 SunAlliance Chase confirmations - Blowing Wind, Lady Cricket, Moondigua and Upgrade.
The betting is dominated by the two Irish raiders with Arthur Moore's Native Upmanship the 7-2 favourite and the Willie Mullins-trained Alexander Banquet 4-1, with Ladbrokes.
