Monsignor, last season`s leading novice hurdler, has met with a setback and his return to action has been delayed.
Mark Pitman`s stable star, widely expected to take high rank among the novice chasers this time, had originally been due to make his fencing debut early next month but connections have abandoned that plan.
Speaking in response to speculation that the six-year-old had undergone a scan on a leg, owner Malcolm Denmark said: 'There were a few problems with a few corns, little bit of sort of infection and we weren`t sure about a few things.
'It`s right there has been a scan. There`s not a lot to say about it. We are looking after him for a few weeks.
'We`ll see how it goes. If there is more of a problem we`ll let you know but we are desperately hoping there`s not.
'At this stage we are hopeful he`ll just be a bit late for his seasonal debut.'
There are no immediate targets for the six-year-old, who has won at the last two Cheltenham Festivals and is unbeaten over hurdles.
Denmark added: 'He`s looking great. He`s certainly short of a little bit of fitness _ we`ll just be watching it for a few days.'
