The Briton, current world number two, had been due to appear at the tournament in Wigan, near his hometown of Warrington in northern England.
Instead, the 18-year-old posted a photograph on Instagram from the passenger seat of a car with another vehicle in front.
"Back to bed it is. Wonder who they are gonna call up," he said in the caption. The deadline was 12:00 CET local and media reported the post was made at 12:06 CET.
Littler can still take part in a separate event scheduled for Thursday at the same venue if he registers on time on the day.
He already has a place in the Players Championship finals in Minehead from November 21-23, with a 120,000-pound ($161,052) prize for the winner.
Wednesday's Wigan tournament pays 15,000 pounds to the winner.