Henrietta Knight is under no illusions about the task facing Racing Demon as he prepares to take on Kauto Star in the Stan James King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

The six-year-old, trained by Knight at West Lockinge, near Wantage, is the third favourite at around 6-1 for the Kempton showpiece, having won the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon in tremendous style last month.

Knight, who won the King George with Best Mate in 2002 and Edredon Bleu in 2003, reports that the son of Old Vic's preparation has gone very well for his biggest test to date.

But she believes that in Kauto Star her charge faces an exceptional rival.

The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old has looked something out of the ordinary this term, winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock and the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown in a canter.

It's seen Kauto Star installed as a red-hot 4-6 favourite for next Tuesday's Grade 1 contest. The rest could be just making up the numbers.

But the course and the race look tailor-made for Racing Demon, who is set to be ridden by Shrivenham-based jockey Timmy Murphy, and he is certainly capable of a bold show.

Knight enjoyed a timely boost ahead of the big Boxing Day contest when Ringaroses recorded an impressive victory at Ascot on Saturday.

Murphy brought the five-year-old from last to first to take the novices' hurdle over an extended two miles and three furlongs by three and a half lengths from Breathing Fire.

It prompted Ladbrokes to cut Ringaroses odds to 20-1 (from 33) for the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

After passing the post, the gelding, the last offspring of former Stayer's Hurdle heroine Rose Ravine, planted himself on the course before consenting to return to the winner's enclosure.

Knight said: "The further he goes the better he will be. He might have one more run before the Festival."

It was the middle leg of a treble for Murphy, who also landed The Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle on Acambo and the concluding bumper aboard Seven Is My Number.

On the Flat, Beauchamp Viceroy came up trumps at Wolverthampton for Gerard Butler's Blewbury stables, near Didcot, The two-year-old, owned by Erik Penser, who lives at Compton Beauchamp, beat Nina Blini by three-quarters of a length in a six-furlong novice stakes.

East Ilsley trainer Hughie Morrison was another to enjoy success on the all-weather circuit.

He sent out Colchium to beat Miss Saafend Plaza by a short head in a mile maiden at Kempton, and was also on the mark with easy winner Benny The Bat at Wolverhampton.

West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon was also among the winners when Messiah Garvey opened his account under Edward Creighton in a Kempton maiden.