UXIZANDRE will miss the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday and instead line up in the Shloer Chase a day later.

Barbury Castle trainer Alan King's six-year-old, who sports the colours of leading owner JP McManus, rounded off a fine novice campaign over fences with a Grade One victory at Aintree in April.

He then finished fourth when favourite upon his return to action in last month's Old Roan Chase on Merseyside .

Uxizandre is currently joint-top weight for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but King feels Sunday's Listed event at Cheltenham is a more suitable target.

His task has also been made significantly less demanding following the news Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Sire De Grugy will miss his intended reappearance after suffering lameness on Wednesday morning.

"He goes for the Shloer," said King.

"It's a shame about Sire De Grugy, but we were going to go there (Shloer Chase) anyway.

"We'll have a try."

With Uxizandre set to defect and the other top weight, Rajdhani Express, ruled out on Tuesday, the weights for the Paddy Power Gold Cup are likely to be headed by last year's winner Johns Spirit and the Nicky Henderson-trained Oscar Whisky, who has been confirmed an intended runner.

The dual Aintree Hurdle winner struck twice over fences at Cheltenham last season and also claimed the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown.

Oscar Whisky, who, remarkably, will be having his first start in a handicap, was runner-up behind Uxizandre at Aintree in April.