Danoli is out of Sunday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown and will probably miss the rest of the season after sustaining a leg injury over the weekend.
Tom Foley's stable star knocked himself on Saturday evening when being walked on the road.
A disappointed Foley said yesterday: "He was full of himself and his hind leg knocked into the back of his off-fore tendon. He's not lame but there is bruising and he couldn't possibly run on Sunday."
That means it must be odds-on that Danoli will also miss the Cheltenham Festival as Foley insists he will not travel there without a prep' run and he added: "We will possibly rest him for the rest of the season and then bring him back in the autumn."
If that wasn't a big enough blow for the Leopardstown executive, the main intended English challenger, The Grey Monk, will also miss Sunday's race.
The grey, who remains the Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite in some books despite See More Business' impressive win on Saturday, has not been pleasing Gordon Richards in the last week and the Cumbrian trainer hinted that The Grey Monk could go straight for steeplechasing's blue riband.
With those two horses missing the Hennessy, Jim Dreaper is likely to let Merry Gale take his chance with Norman Williamson aboard but the betting is set to be dominated by Dorans Pride and Imperial Call.
The latter has been working at the Aghabullogue point-to-point circuit in Co Cork and pleasing his trainer Fergie Sutherland.
"The horse is perfect, just where he should be at this stage. Aghabullogue is a terrific place for working horses. We've popped him a couple of times but he's a natural jumper and the main thing is to keep him healthy," Sutherland said.
Dorans Pride jumped six hurdles on Friday but after his disappointing effort at Naas last time, Michael Hourigan is anxious for an improved effort on Sunday.
"Naturally, I'm a bit worried about what happened the last time. I wouldn't be human if I wasn't but we have found no reason for it. It was totally out of character and he wouldn't have won a point-to-point that day but he is very well now," Hourigan said.
