John Dunlop's Times Up was a surprise absentee from the entries for Saturday's Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot.
The six-year-old has shown the best form of his career this summer, winning his last two starts in the Lonsdale and Doncaster Cups.
It had been thought he would attempt to give Dunlop a last big winner at Ascot before the veteran handler's retirement but the prospect of soft ground has scuppered those plans and he has now been roughed off for the year.
"He's not running this weekend because he needs fast ground to be seen at his best and there's no prospect of that," said the Arundel trainer.
"It's unlikely he'll get that anywhere now so he's been retired for the season.
"It still has not been decided who will train him next season."
Update:
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