Boxing Day latest: Kempton going changed to good for a 'cracking' King George

Nicky Henderson is confident there will not be a repeat of what happened with Shishkin before the 1965 Chase at Ascot when he lines up in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (2.30) at Kempton.

The nine-year-old was the 8-13 favourite for the 1965 Chase at Ascot on his first start of the season but he refused to race under regular rider Nico de Boinville. He was then due to run in the rearranged Fighting Fifth at Sandown earlier this month but was withdrawn due to testing conditions.

The Joe and Marie Donnelly-owned Shishkin meets five rivals in Kempton's Grade 1 and his trainer believes his team have done what they can to ensure he returns to his best form.

In his Unibet blog on Tuesday morning, Henderson said: "We have done everything that can be done to try and eradicate any potential misbehaviour at the start, and I really don't think it will be a problem this time because George Daly, my assistant, will be there to keep everything under control.

"It hasn't been ideal coming into this without a prep run, but I'm afraid we have to accept the cards we're dealt.

"After Aintree in the spring, this race has always been the objective and I think three miles around Kempton will really suit. He's in good shape at home and I'm very much looking forward to the race."

Shishkin has been supported for the King George, the feature event on a big afternoon of racing in Britain and Ireland on Boxing Day. He has been cut into a top-priced 100-30 (from 4s) as he attempts to get his season off to winning ways.

He returns for what will be his first run since a Grade 1 success at Aintree in April and punters are expecting the 13-time winner to run a big race this afternoon.

Paddy Power have trimmed Shishkin into 100-30 (from 7-2) and spokesman Paul Binfield said: "Allaho and Bravemansgame, the front two in the market, are steady, while support is coming for Shishkin, who punters are seeming to forgive for his antics before the 1965 Chase at Ascot and hoping he’s more in the mood of when he beat a good-looking field in the Aintree Bowl over this kind of trip at the end of the last campaign."

Constitution Hill: is heavily odds-on to extend his winning run to eight at Kempton

Before the excitement of the King George racing fans will be eagerly awaiting the return of six-time Grade 1 winner Constitution Hill, who lines up in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (1.55) for a second year running.

The Henderson-trained six-year-old, who enjoyed a wide-margin success in the race 12 months ago, was due to return in the rearranged Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Sandown earlier this month but he was withdrawn due to the testing ground.

The trainer said: "As we all know, this is not the way we expected to get here but owing to the weather we have found ourselves turning up without a run, which isn't ideal. He's done plenty of work and been away to gallop, so shouldn't be wanting it for fitness, and I'm looking forward to eventually getting him going."

As expected, Constitution Hill will be sent off as the heavy favourite and he is currently 1-11 to record another top-level victory. Only one horse, Hurricane Fly, will have started shorter in a Grade 1 since 1988. Hurricane Fly justified favouritism at 1-16 when winning the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November 2013.

Binfield said: "The odds are a bit prohibitive for most punters today, so backing Henderson’s stable star at 2-1 to have a combined winning distance of 60 lengths or more for the 2023-24 campaign could give them a bit of excitement as he tackles the Kempton hurdles."

Kempton going changed to good following rainfall overnight

The Ladbrokes King George Chase at Kempton is the headline act on a stellar day of racingCredit: Edward Whitaker

Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford welcomed the arrival of 2mm of rainfall overnight and is relishing a "cracking race" in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (2.30), the feature race on an afternoon stacked with high-quality sport in Britain and Ireland.

A field of six, including last year's winner Bravemansgame, will go to post in the Grade 1 showdown on a card that also features the return of unbeaten superstar Constitution Hill in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle.

The going at Kempton was changed from good, good to soft in places to good following only a smattering of rain overnight, and Clifford said: "There's moisture in the ground but its a bit dry on top and it's lovely ground. It's a lovely morning. We had 2mm of rain overnight, which was welcome, and the ground is good."

On the excitement of the King George, he added: "There might be only six in the King George, but you can't rule any of them out and it should be a cracking race. Obviously we've got Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle and the horses taking him on love good ground, so it'll be interesting."

Those rivals to Constitution Hill now number four after Kerry Lee withdrew Nemean Lion on account of the going. The six-year-old was to have been the mount of in-form Gavin Sheehan but the Presteigne trainer will still be represented by Swinton Hurdle winner Black Poppy.

Kempton's fixture on Wednesday features the Grade 2 Wayward Lad and Desert Orchid, and Clifford added: "We're due rain and heavy winds tomorrow, so we'll monitor the situation throughout the morning tomorrow."

There are a total of 11 meetings across Britain and Ireland, and Aintree prepares to host its first Boxing Day meeting. The feature of the afternoon at the Merseyside track is the Grade 1 Formby Novices' Hurdle (1.05), formerly known as the Tolworth Hurdle, which was run at Sandown. The going is soft on both the hurdle and chase course.

Clerk of the course Sulekha Varma said: "We had just over 4mm of rain yesterday, which has kept the ground as it was and I suppose in some ways it would have been dead and tacky without that rain whereas now it's proper soft ground. It's nice winter ground.

"We've got sunshine and cloud this morning and it's supposed to get cloudier as the day goes on."

A field of nine are set to line up in the top-level contest, including the Gordon Elliott-trained Farren Glory, Nicky Henderson's Jango Baie and Tellherthename, who is trained by Ben Pauling.

The 3m Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (1.35) is the feature at Wetherby, while there is also racing at Sedgefield, Fontwell, Market Rasen, Wincanton and Wolverhampton in Britain.

In Ireland, the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase (2.20) is the main event at Leopardstown, with eight-time winner Facile Vega making his second start over fences. There is also racing at Limerick and Down Royal.

Non-runners

Aintree
1.05: Jackpot d'Athou
2.15: Some Scope

Kempton
1.55: Nemean Lion
3.40: Bear Ghylls, Pounding Poet, Classic Lord

Leopardstown
12.00: Rebel Cowgirl, Tell Us This
3.30: Kinbara Firstdraft, Moonlight Jazz

*Updated at 11am

Market movers

Aintree
1.05: Farren Glory 11-4 (from 3-1)

Kempton
12.45: Blow Your Wad 7-2 (from 4-1)
1.20: Hermes Allen 11-8 (from 13-8)
1.55: Constitution Hill 1-11 (from 1-10)
2.30: Shishkin 100-30 (from 7-2)

*Updated at 11am

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'It looks significant that he's in Ireland' - one jockey to note at each of the 11 meetings on Boxing Day

'He's as good a chance I'll get of winning a King George' - key quotes for Kempton's Boxing Day feature

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