Demon shining.

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."

THE Listener, unbeaten over fences, is set to put his reputation on the line in Saturday's Grade Two totepool Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Lingfield.

A general 8-1 chance for the Royal and SunAlliance Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, the grey already has two Grade Two victories to his name.

And according to Sally Alner, wife of trainer Robert, he will be bidding to make that three at the weekend.

"He has looked impressive so far this season but they all have to lose sometime.

"He would obviously prefer a bit of cut, but this race comes at the right time so he will be running."