WITH the National Hunt season moving up a gear, Henrietta Knight is set to take the wraps off Racing Demon and Impek, the stars of her West Lockinge stables, near Wantage.

Racing Demon is due to return to the fray in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase over two and a half miles at Carlisle on Sunday.

And Impek is set to make his seasonal reappearance in the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on Tuesday.

Racing Demon's northern raid should see him renew rivalry with Monet's Garden, who finished in front of Knight's charge in the Arkle Trophy last term when they were second and seventh.

The son of Old Vic is set to be campaigned over further than two miles this season, and Knight sees the Carlisle contest as an ideal starting point.

The West Lockinge trainer said: "It may be pretty tough for his first race, but it was either that or the Haldon Gold Cup and I don't want to be taking on Impek either. It had to be one or the other.

"The Gold Cup is a long way off yet and we have to take in these intermediate chases first and see how we go. He definitely wants further than two miles and I think he'll be a three-miler."

Stablemate Impek is to use the Haldon Gold Cup as a stepping stone for a crack at a repeat victory in the totesport Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on Saturday, November 18.

"It's amazing to think the last race he won was the Peterborough almost a year ago," said Knight. "He's in great form."

Meanwhile, the silks worn by Jim Culloty when he rode Knight's ill-fated champion, Best Mate, to a third Cheltenham Gold Cup win are to go under the hammer.

Together with a racing plate worn by Matey on that memorable day, the silks - which have been autographed by owner Jim Lewis, Knight and her husband Terry Biddlecombe - will be auctioned at Sotherby's Olympia saleroom next Wednesday.

Lewis has donated the items to St Richard's Hospice, Worcestershire - and it is hoped they will raise thousands of pounds for the charity.