Conditions just right for racing: Knight
Henrietta Knight believes the track and the ground will suit Racing Demon as the six-year-old bids to give the Wantage trainer her third win in the Stan James King George VI Chase.
The trainer captured Kempton’s St Stephen's Day feature with Best Mate (2002) and Edredon Bleu (2003) and now it is the turn of her latest bright star to strut his stuff.
After unshipping Graham Lee on his seasonal bow at Exeter, Racing Demon came good with a stylish success over Thisthatandtother in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon.
Knight reckons the gelding has improved for the outing and she is hopeful of a good run with ground and other conditions set to be in his favour.
“It’s all systems go – he’s very well and we’ve just got to get through Christmas Day with him!” she said.
“I think his last run was a career best to date and we think he has come on again for the run. On the face of it Kauto Star will be hard to beat. He is a super horse but no horse is unbeatable and we will try our best.
“I have always thought he will get three miles and as everyone says he has a tendency to jump right, the track should suit him and there’s no problems with the ground.”
Nicky Richards is hopeful Monet’s Garden can give him his first triumph in the race and emulate his father, the late Gordon Richards, who took the prize three times with Titus Oates (1969) and dual winner One Man (1995 and 96)
Although Monet’s Garden has yet to tackle three miles over the bigger obstacles, the grey won the 2005 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree over that distance.
“He will be trying three miles over fences for the first time but he got the trip at the highest level over hurdles so I would hope he will get it this time,” said the Penrith trainer.
“They are all very good horses in there but I think my horse is very good too, so it will be an interesting race.”
Richards has been delighted with his eight-year-old stable star since he won on his reappearance at Carlisle, beating French raider Mid Dancer who has since gone on to claim a Grade Two in native land.
“He’s fine, he will be travelling down to Kempton at some point tomorrow,” Richards added.
“He’s been good since Carlisle. I’ve just brought him along steadily and hopefully he will be spot on.”
