Neil King has Lil Rockerfeller 'back on good terms' for National Spirit defence

Lil Rockerfeller is back to defend his title in the totepool National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on Sunday.Neil King's stable star has failed to win any of his four races this season but there was certainly nothing wrong with his first three efforts, at Wetherby and twice at Ascot.He could have been expected to perform a bit better at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, but King's horses were out of form at the time and the six-year-old was slightly under the weather.His chief aim all season has been the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, with King having earmarked this Grade Two as the perfect prep."This has obviously been one of his main targets all season, along with the Stayers' Hurdle," said the Wiltshire trainer."The season started well for him as he arguably ran three career-bests on the spin."He was only beaten by some very good horses, Yanworth at Ascot and then Unowhatimeanharry, and they are the best about."He was then just slightly off-colour at Cheltenham on New Year's Day behind Agrapart. When he came home he just wasn't quite himself."We'd always planned to give him a little break after that race anyway, with the intention of running in this and then the Stayers'."He's back on good terms with himself and we're all looking forward to it."Lil Rockerfeller surprisingly takes on Nicky Henderson's Different Gravey.The seven-year-old has been novice chasing this season but it all went wrong at Cheltenham last time out. Henderson said in his blog for Stan James: "Different Gravey was entered in the Pendil, but as we all know he didn't jump a twig at Cheltenham so he's going back over hurdles in the hope it will boost his confidence. "Two and a half miles with cut in the ground should be perfect for him and it's a very valuable prize, too."He's in great form and we are going to give him a run here before probably going back over fences."We'll leave Cheltenham out of it this year and decide whether to stay over hurdles or go back chasing at Aintree. It all depends on the outcome of this."Henderson also runs another horse who has spent time chasing this season, L'Ami Serge.The Seven Barrows said: "Many people were quick to crab L'Ami Serge after the Stan James Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock but we did find some traces of blood after the race which goes some way to explaining why some believe he didn't go through with his effort."He has lots of twos and threes next to his name so there is always going to be question marks with him but I won't have it and we'll see how he gets on here."We can always revert to chasing if needs be anyway."Dan Skelton is represented by Shelford, who won two races in France in the spring."We're stuck a little bit about where to go with him, but we've got to run somewhere," said Skelton."He's carrying the penalties that he earned in France which is making things a little harder."