Demon Team Relishing Festival Challenge

Racing Demon is reported to be 'sparkling' as connections count down the days to next month's Cheltenham Festival.

Henrietta Knight's six-year-old is disputing favouritism with Accordion Etoile in the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy after winning each of his three starts over fences.

Racing Demon completed his build-up with a comfortable success at Exeter on Sunday and Terry Biddlecombe, Knight's husband and assistant, expects him to relish the hurly-burly of the Festival.

'He's sparkling. I'm very happy with him,' he told At The Races.

'He can do nothing else but win. He just sort of hit the wing at the fourth-last but otherwise he's done nothing wrong.

'He's won on the bridle, he's come back and you wouldn't know he's had a race.

'It's straight to Cheltenham now and the better the gallop, the better he will be.'

Knight is also set to be represented at the Festival by Impek, a leading challenger for the two-mile-five-furlong Ryanair Chase.

The 10-year-old won twice earlier in the season and was last seen finishing third in the King George VI Chase at Sandown.

Biddlecombe added: 'It will also be straight to Cheltenham with him. He's had a hard season, about four or fives runs, but he's done nothing wrong and ran well in the King George.'

(C) PA Sport