Knight forced to abandon Demon plan

Irish Independent Arkle Trophy favourite Racing Demon has been ruled out of his engagements this week after bursting an abscess on a tooth.

Henrietta Knight’s six-year-old did hold an entry at Uttoxeter tomorrow, but failed to appear among the five-day declarations for the Intercasino.co.uk Lightning Novices’ Chase at Lingfield on Saturday.

“He has had a burst abscess on a tooth and he can’t run this week at all,” said Knight.

“We sent somebody up to walk the course at Uttoxeter and we were strongly considering that race, and I was going to enter him on Saturday, but he has this burst abscess.

“It is of no consequence long-term, but it is fairly uncomfortable as it is under his jaw.”

Racing Demon has already missed several recent engagements due to unsuitable ground and is now scheduled to reappear in the totesport Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase on February 4.

Knight continued: “He won’t race for 10 days and I would say he will go for the Sandown race now.”

The gelding shot to prominence in the Arkle market when making a winning debut over fences at Exeter in November and then followed up by taking the Grade Two Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown last month.

He is a general 5-1 chance to score at the Festival, having finished runner-up there last year in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle.