Kempton and Aintree going set to dry out but no concerns despite forecast drop in temperatures

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The going at Kempton and Aintree is forecast to dry up in the days leading up to the tracks' Grade 1 fixtures on Friday, with temperatures also expected to dip below freezing on Christmas Day.

Neither course is predicting any issues with the sub-zero temperatures for racing the following day, but both have covered take-offs, landings and vulnerable places as a precaution.

At Kempton, which hosts the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase and Christmas Hurdle, the ground was on the easy side of good three days out from its flagship fixture.

Clerk of the course Barney Clifford said: “The going is good to soft, good in places and it could dry a little between now and raceday. Kempton will always walk a little quicker than it rides, but if we were racing here today it’d be good to soft, good in places and a mixture of about 50-50 between the two.

“We’re only forecast the one frost on Christmas night when it could get down to -2C, so we should be fine. We’ve taken the precaution of covering take-offs, landings and anywhere that could be vulnerable.”

At Aintree, where the Grade 1 William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle is the feature contest, up to 97 yards will be added to the races with rails out on the home, Seeds Lane, Western and Anchor Bridge bends.

Clerk of the course Sulekha Varma said: “The going is soft, good to soft in places on both the hurdles and chase courses and we have a dry outlook, so it could dry out a bit before racing.

“We’ve put frost covers down as a precaution but we don't think there's going to be an issue. The forecasts have us just touching freezing, so we’re just being cautious.”

Wetherby will also host one of Britain’s feature races on Friday in the William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase.

The chase course at Leopardstown has been wateredCredit: Patrick McCann

Clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson said: “We’ve got a lovely dry, calm period of weather. The going is soft, but by raceday I think it will have dried to at least soft, good to soft in places.

“We’re forecast a nice, sunny day and I’m delighted with the fields we have, so we’re excited to be racing and to welcome everyone along.”

Racing also takes place at Fontwell, Market Rasen, Sedgefield, Wincanton and Wolverhampton in Britain on Friday, and no issues are anticipated at any of the tracks.

A dry forecast for Leopardstown means clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer has opted to water the chase course for the four-day Christmas festival.

He said: "On the chase track, we are yielding, good to yielding in places. On the hurdles track, its yielding to soft on days one and two. It walks a little slower for days three and four.

"We're doing a little selective watering on the chase track, just to keep it comfortable and the kindness in it. The forecast is generally dry, cool and settled all the way through to day four."

At Limerick, which stages the Grade 1 Guinness 00 Faugheen Novice Chase on Sunday, the ground is heavy on the hurdles track and soft to heavy on the chase course. No more rain is forecast before the start of next week.

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