Racing: Monet's Garden is "absolutely bouncing" ahead of his second clash with Kauto Star this season in Saturday's Commercial First Ascot Chase.
Nicky Richards' gallant grey became the first horse to beat the Gold Cup winner in almost two years at Aintree back in October.
However, he finds himself a stone worse off tomorrow, leaving regular pilot Tony Dobbin well aware of the size of the task ahead.
"He's a lovely horse to be associated with and he's been very good to me, he's given me some of my greatest days on a racecourse," said the jockey.
"He's one of my favourites and he's one of the best I've ridden. He's very talented and he's very genuine. He gives his all and you can't ask for any more.
"He's as well as ever this season, he likes it around Ascot and he won this race last year.
"He's in great form at the moment as well. I popped him over a few fences the other morning and he's absolutely bouncing. He likes to be fresh and he has had a nice break.
"Obviously it's a tough task, I'm sure Kauto Star will be a different proposition to the one we beat at Aintree but he proved that he's not unbeatable.
"When Monet's won this race last year that was possibly his best ever performance, but he was also very good at Aintree last season when he beat Taranis.
"He's given us some very good performances down the years and he very rarely lets us down."
Paul Moloney will finally get the leg-up on Racing Demon. In the absence of Tony McCoy, Graham Lee and Timmy Murphy, Moloney will ride Henrietta Knight's charge as the eight-year-old has a third crack at the mighty Kauto Star.
This season, just like last, Racing Demon found Kauto Star too good in the King George VI Chase having arrived at Kempton on the back of a victory in the Peterborough Chase.
"I was actually asked to ride the horse in the Peterborough this year," said Moloney. "I remember AP (McCoy) was riding Wichita Lineman at Ascot but I had commitments to Evan Williams at Haydock and had to turn it down.
"I'm certainly excited and it's a great ride to get. I've been doing some schooling for Henrietta Knight over the last couple of years and I've always managed to ride her a few winners.
"Of course it will be very difficult to beat Kauto Star, but my horse is good in his own right and I will just try and get him into a nice rhythm and see what happens."
Moloney will quickly come back to earth after his Grade One assignment, however, as he will dash off to Wincanton for a ride in a handicap hurdle just two and a half hours later.