Old Park Star was taken out of Cheltenham by Nicky Henderson on Saturday morning as he was amongst a plethora of non runners due to the ground.
The ground at Prestbury Park was Good, Good to Soft in places going into the opening day of the three-day meeting but with frost overnight on both Thursday and Friday nights the course was covered and unable to water, with the ground remaining 'Good' all over.
Temperatures dipped to -3.9 degrees last night and another dry day is forecast.
It leaves the Paddy Power Arkle Trial without it's two main attractions as Old Park Star followed Kabral Du Mathan's lead in withdrawing, while Ace Of Spades, Wonderful Eagle, Gold For Alec and Geezer Rockstar are all out of the three-mile handicap hurdle at 14:55.
Madara, Johnnywho and Norn Iron are the three non runners in the feature Paddy Power Gold Cup at 14:20.
You can check out all the latest non runners here.
Dan Skelton explained why he was taking some of his high-profile horses out at Cheltenham on Friday.
“Kabral Du Mathan is out, Madara is out, the first horse (Top Guy) won’t run and then one in the bumper won’t run," he said.
“It was a very easy decision to make with Kabral. Harry (Skelton) rode in the novices’ chase earlier on and came back in and said it was quick. That is it, finished, end of story.
“We want to run, but we can’t go on that. I think it is quicker than everyone anticipated. I don’t hold anyone at fault for that.
"I don’t hold anyone to account for that because at the end of the day our understanding, and the feedback we have had, is that as much water has gone on as is possible.
"If that has happened, that has happened and there is nothing more anyone could have done. It is frustrating because we wanted to run.
“I think I was pretty clear with Madara right from the start. I always thought it was going to be on the borderline with him, and again it was not a difficult decision to make. It is just one of those things.
“Kabral has had that run so I might just leave him until the Henry VIII at Sandown.”
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