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Cheltenham Festival winner Salut Flo is likely to make a belated return over jumps as he recovers from colic.
The David Pipe-trained seven-year-old claimed the Byrne Group Plate in March, but suffered a leg injury in his preparations for a race at Punchestown a month later.
Plans are now on hold after he required surgery following a bout of colic.
Pipe said: "He is well on the road to recovery now, but he has been through a lot and plans for when he will return to the track are on hold at present.
"Owner Allan Stennett had shown tremendous patience with him prior to his Festival success and hopefully his patience will once again be rewarded.
"He is far too good a horse to risk bringing back too quickly and we will continue to monitor his progress before making any firm plans for him."
Salut Flo's stablemate I'm So Lucky has been retired. Pipe's 10-year-old was a regular fixture in big two-mile races, and finished sixth in last season's Queen Mother Champion Chase.
His finest hour came at Sandown in April 2010, when he won the Grade Two Celebration Chase by six lengths.
The Pond House handler told www.davidpipe.com: "He was one of my personal favourites and while I am sorry that his career has drawn to a close, I am happy to say that he retired safe, sound and happy and is currently with his owner Roger Brookhouse.
"He still showed that he was capable of smart form last season, most notably when running a decent third behind crack novice Sprinter Sacre in a Grade Two chase at Newbury."
