Sent off the 13-8 joint-favourite, he tracked the pacesetter Thisthatandtother for nearly the duration, with none of the scratchy leaps that have characterised his jumping career and saw him come to grief in the early stages at Exeter last month.

Pushed in front n the home straight by Graham Lee, Racing Demon steamed home by four lengths from Thisthatandtother, with Monkerhostin slightly one-paced in third and Dempsey never appearing happy as the last horse home.

“I will sleep better tonight,” said the ever-superstitious Knight.

“I expected him to run well, but he hadn’t really raced since March. He carries his head so low, but he really enjoyed himself.”

Racing Demon was cut to 9-1 from 12s by the sponsors for the Stan James King George VI Chase and Knight added: “I need to talk to the owner, but I don’t think he would run until then. Mind you, I don’t know if he’d beat Kauto Star, who put in some performance today.

“But Terry (Biddlecombe, Knight’s husband) thinks he can run in the Gold Cup.”

Thisthatandtother ran a fine race after being sidelined for a year with injury and Harry Fry, pupil assistant to Paul Nicholls said: “We’ve got to be delighted, as we thought he might need it.”

Connections of Monkerhostin were also satisfied with their charge’s seasonal reappearance.

Tom O’Brien dominated the rest of the Cambridgeshire track’s showpiece card by landing a treble.

Bradley Boy (4-6 favourite) was a facile 26-length winner of the two-and-a-half-mile totequadpot Novices’ Hurdle.

Winner on his hurdling debut, he led on the back straight and was never troubled. Paul Webber’s pair Sundarbob and More Trouble took second and third.

“He’ll probably step up to three miles now as he keeps galloping,” said Paul Price, assistant to winning handler Carl Llewellyn. “He was a bit weak last year, just a frame of a horse, but he’s taking his races a lot better now.”

Bradley Boy was given a 33-1 quote for the former Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle.

O’Brien was also on the mark with the Triumph Hurdle prospect Tritonix, who gave takers of his 4-11 starting price a brief nervous moment when overjumping the third-last.

But he straightened himself out to take the toteexacta Introductory Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle by 15 lengths from Ned Ludd with the minimum of fuss.

Sarah Hobbs, wife of winning trainer Philip, said: “Tom said he would be better suited by a faster pace, but he had to make the running today. He’s a nice horse and on course for the Triumph.”

The rider was at his most forceful in the totescoop6 Handicap Chase to get another Hobbs runner, College Ace (3-1 joint-favourite), home by a head from Miss Shakira.

The five-year-old attempted to get rid of his pilot three times before the start of the race, but moved in front during the middle section of the race to set a frenetic pace.

The pair looked leg weary turning for home and Miss Shakira had every chance during an epic battle, but it was College Ace who just had enough to prevail.

Unfortunately, O’Brien’s day was tempered by a two-day ban (November 29 and 30) for improper riding.

Ungaro (15-8 favourite) was introduced at 25-1 by Cashmans in the market for the Arkle Trophy after a fluent victory in the totecourse to course Novices’ Chase.

Keith Reveley’s former smart hurdler was taking his chase record to two wins from as many starts and always travelled kindly for Brian Harding.

Three were still in contention turning for home before Afrad crashed out at the second-last and Ungaro proved eight lengths too strong for Muhtenbar.

Meanwhile, Alan King continued his fine day at the other courses as Berengario made a winning debut for his new yard in the totesport 0800 221 221 Handicap Hurdle, gamely holding Into The Shadows by two lengths for Wayne Hutchinson.

A good piece of tactical riding by Warren Marston on Delightful Cliche stole the toteplacepot Handicap Hurdle.

The rider kicked the 7-1 shot clear with three flights to run and although Fort Ord eventually got into gear in the closing stages, he was beaten a neck at the line.

It was a lift for trainer Pam Sly, who is currently suffering from shingles but has her string of 14 jumpers in far better health.

She said: “I think that’s our fifth winner. He might school over fences now, so we can do both codes.”