RACING Demon is set to forego a mammoth Cheltenham Gold Cup clash with Kauto Star in favour of the Ryanair Chase, his trainer Henrietta Knight has suggested.

The horse (pictured left being ridden by Timmy Murphy) had been backed to as low as 16-1 for March's showpiece jumping event after finishing third behind Kauto Star in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

Entries for the Gold Cup closed last Wednesday, and will not be made public until next week. But Knight, who trained Best Mate to three historic Gold Cup wins, said Racing Demon was likely to have an alternative festival target.

"I doubt Racing Demon will run in the Gold Cup this year. We will be looking at the Ryanair Chase," said Knight (below).

Exotic Dancer, who finished second in the King George, is also set to swerve Kauto Star in favour of the Ryanair race, which is run over two miles five furlongs, compared with the Gold Cup's stamina-busting 3m 2f.

The seven-year-old, trained by Jonjo O'Neill, has already struck twice at Cheltenham this year taking the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Boylesports.com Gold Cup.

Barry Simpson, racing manager to Exotic Dancer's owner Sir Robert Ogden, said: "The Ryanair Chase is the obvious race for Exotic Dancer, but a lot depends on what else is in the race."

Kauto Star is the 6-4 ante-post favourite for the Gold Cup, with last year's winner War Of Attrition and In Compliance also attracting strong support from punters.

Gold Cup hopeful Darkness, a 33-1 shot, has also been ruled out of the Blue Ribband event and will not run again this season after picking up a tendon injury in October.