Another band of rain forecast to greet Thursday's racing in Britain and Ireland

The ground at Kempton remains soft for the start of the course's two-day Christmas festival, headlined by the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (3.05).

Despite a short dry spell the course is expecting a further five to ten millimetres of rainfall from around midday on Thursday, meaning conditions could be tough for runners and punters alike.

The scene is similar at Leopardstown, where the going is soft, yielding in places on the hurdle course and yielding on the chase track ahead of the course's four-day meeting.

Rain is expected on Thursday with up to 10mm possibly falling before exciting young stars Fakir D'Oudairies, Laurina and Notebook face off in a fascinating Racing Post Novice Chase (2.20).

Fakir D'Oudairies: produced an excellent round of jumping in the Drinmore Novice ChaseCredit: Caroline Norris

No inspection has been called at Limerick but the going is described as heavy at the course with a further 8mm of rain expected to arrive before St Stephen's Day.

The track hosts one of the races of the day when Samcro clashes with Faugheen in the Grade 1 Matchbook Betting Exchange Novice Chase (2.40).

Wetherby is the venue for the Grade 3 Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (2.10) and the going is soft with the threat of up to 7mm of rain on Thursday morning.

Standing water has cleared from the course at Wincanton but the going is still described as heavy, soft in places with light showers expected over the next two days and more persistent rain expected on Boxing Day.

The chase track at Fontwell is heavy and the hurdles course is soft, heavy in places. Conditions are expected to remain dry on the south coast before further showers on raceday.

Those averse to testing conditions would be best served by heading to Market Rasen. Good to soft, soft in places is the description on the hurdles course and soft on the chase course.

Little rain is expected in the run up to and during the course's seven-race Boxing Day card.

Only light showers are expected at Sedgefield where the going on Tuesday afternoon was described as soft, good to soft in places.

Well-known names including Edwulf and Ucello Conti are set to line up in the intriguing Bluegrass Hunters Chase (2.45) at Down Royal where the going is yielding. Rain is expected after Wednesday.

Wolverhampton hosts an all-weather card on Boxing Day with the going standard, but Huntingdon's jumps meeting has already succumbed to the bad weather after the course suffered flood damage.

Early non-runners

Sedgefield 2.05: Ringaringarosie (other)
Market Rasen 2.50 Dr Oakley (self-cert, bad scope)
Wolverhampton 1.40: Atletico (s-c, knocked joint)

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