Lil Rockerfeller's preparations for the Cheltenham Festival received a jolt after he was ruled out from Fontwell on Sunday.
Neil King's six-year-old won the totepool National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell 12 months ago but was taken out of the same Grade Two contest because he was "off colour".
The Wiltshire handler is, however, still hoping to get Lil Rockerfeller to the Festival next month for a tilt at the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle.
King said: "It's extremely disappointing (not to run at Fontwell) and we are a bit down.
"He was in such great order in the last two weeks, but a horse has to be 100 per cent to run in a race like that and he isn't.
"We'll get to work with him at home and hopefully he can still get to Cheltenham, though he won't have another run beforehand now."
