Celestial Gold will not bid for a repeat victory in Saturday's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.
The Martin Pipe-trained seven-year-old beat Ollie Magern by a length and a half in the extended-three-mile-two-furlong feature last year to complete a notable double having also taken the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Celestial Gold would have carried top weight of 11st 12lb had he run on Saturday but connections have confirmed he will bypass the £125,000 contest.
A statement said: "Celestial Gold will not be declared for the Hennessy on Saturday at Newbury. He just needs a little longer.
"We have entered Celestial Gold for the Robin Cook Memorial Gold Cup at Cheltenham on December 10."
