Chantry House surges in King George betting as ground softens at Kempton

Chantry House is jostling for favouritism in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (3.05) following significant support in the betting on Boxing Day morning.

The seven-year-old, who was a winner at Cheltenham and Aintree last season, has been backed into 7-2 (from 9-2) while Clan Des Obeaux is out to 7-2 and Minella Indo now 4-1.

Chantry House remains the most unexposed horse in the King George line-up. He has yet to race in an open Grade 1 but has been successful on eight of his ten starts under rules.

Asterion Forlonge has also been subject to notable support with his price decreasing to 5-1 (from 6). He unseated in the John Durkan when last seen.

Elsewhere, Tritonic has been well backed for his clash with Epatante in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (2.30) with the recent Ascot winner now no bigger than 7-2 (from 5).

Market movers

2.30 Kempton
Tritonic 7-2 (from 5)

3.05Kempton
Chantry House 7-2 (from 5)

3.40 Kempton
On To Victory 11-2 (from 8)

Kempton going eases after overnight rain

The ground at Kempton has eased to good to soft, soft in places (from good to soft, good in places) after 12mm of rain overnight. There could be further rain this afternoon with showers in the forecast.

ITV Racing tips: one key runner from each of the five races on ITV on Sunday

Nicky Henderson, who trained Broomfield Burg to win the first race at Kempton, said: "Nico [de Boinville] told me that it's definitely soft, but they're getting through it."

Brendan Powell, who rode Black Poppy to finish second in the race added: "It's soft but wet. It's lovely ground."

Away from Kempton, an inspection at Sedgefield was passed after there was snow on the course earlier this morning. The going is soft and racing gets under way at 11.45.

The ground at Wetherby, which hosts the Rowland Meyrick Chase (2.10), eased to soft (from soft, good to soft in places) after 6mm of rain overnight, although the course missed the snow that fell in other parts of Yorkshire.

Leopardstown will race on soft ground on the hurdles course and soft, yielding in places on the chase track for the first day of the Christmas meeting. This comes after the track was hit with 45mm of rain since Christmas day morning.

The going at Limerick is heavy for a seven-race card headlined by the BoyleSports Faugheen Novice Chase (2.40). There are two non-runners in that Grade 1 event with Lifetime Ambition and Vanillier taken out because of the ground.

Kempton non-runners

12.45
1 Paso Doble

3.40
10 Albert Van Ornum

Click here to see all of today's non-runners from across the cards

Sunday's race previews:

1.10 Leopardstown: Triumph favourite Fil Dor puts unbeaten hurdles record on the line in Grade 2

1.20 Kempton: 'I can't believe his price' - quotes and analysis for intriguing novice chase

2.10 Wetherby: famed target trainer could have another lurking in this year's Rowland Meyrick

2.20 Leopardstown: 'His form is there for everyone to see' - Townend has faith in Ferny Hollow

2.30 Kempton: is the Christmas Hurdle the race it was and what will it tell us for Cheltenham?

3.05 Kempton: King George VI Chase: the key pointers and quotes for the big race

2.40 Limerick: Farouk D'Alene bidding to be a Christmas cracker again in Faugheen Novice Chase

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