Demon handed hurdles option

Henrietta Knight is considering giving Racing Demon a run over hurdles after he finished a respectable fourth in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.

The West Lockinge trainer has also not ruled out the possibility of taking on King George winner Kauto Star in the Commercial First Ascot Chase over two miles, five and a half furlongs at the Berkshire course on February 16.

Racing Demon fell when he last competed over hurdles at Kempton last January but that has not put Knight off as the eight-year-old is rated much lower over smaller obstacles.

“He may have a run over hurdles again. We’ll see what happens in January and we’ll have another assessment,” said Knight.

“He’ll be entered in that race at Ascot next month – the Commercial First Chase that Kauto Star and the grey horse (Monet’s Garden) are entered in – but we’ll just wait and see.

“I think he may be better over distances short of three miles, but he seemed to be staying on again and nearly got third in the King George.

“I think he may might be better at a shorter distance because he’s got so much speed.

“He’s much lower rated over hurdles and he’s a bit difficult to place over fences because he’s just in between.

“We’ll have fun with him and find something but you don’t want to dishearten them by always putting them against the best.”

Knight reported that Racing Demon came out of the King George, in which he finished third 12 months earlier, in fine form.

“He’s very well indeed. You wouldn’t think he’d had a race,” said Knight.

“He ran a very creditable race.

“He loses a certain amount of ground by jumping so high and he’s not quick when he gets away from the fences, but if you take the winner out the next three are all pretty close.

“The winner was in a different class and is probably in a different class anywhere.”