Racing: Paul Nicholls and owner Clive Smith have decided not to run Kauto Star in Saturday's Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.
Last season's Gold Cup winner appeared among the entries earlier in the week, but Nicholls was quick to point out he was only included as an option.
Kauto Star will instead head to Kempton on St Stephen's Day to bid for back-to-back successes in the Stan James King George VI Chase.
Nicholls said: "We've always said that the King George was the next big target after the Betfair Chase, and we don't want to leave Kempton behind by running at Sandown just over a fortnight earlier.
"If it had looked like being good ground on Saturday, we would not have entered him in the first place, but with all the rain about it made sense to have a look," he told the Racing Post.
Nicholls also confirmed he will let Twist Magic take his chance at Sandown on Saturday, along with stablemate Hoo La Baloo.