Ground eases at Kempton after 10mm of rain ahead of King George

A rainy Christmas Eve night marginally eased the ground at Kempton to a 50:50 split between good to soft and good for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

A total of 10mm of rain was measured at the Surrey track and a further 5mm is forecast before the six-race card which begins at 12.45.

The Irish contingent cantered their three King George contenders, Minella Indo, Asterion Forlonge and Tornado Flyer, at Kempton on Christmas Day morning and all hailed the condition of the track.

Minella Indo continues to challenge for favouritism in the race. Last season's Gold Cup winner is as short as 11-4 with some firms, with two-time Kempton hero Clan Des Obeaux unchanged at 3-1 across the board.

Boxing Day cards

There are no significant movements in the betting for either of the other Grade 1 races on Kempton's Boxing Day card with Bravemansgame and Epatante solid odds-on favourites in their respective races.

Kempton's clerk of the course Barney Clifford said on Christmas Day morning: "We've had 5mm of rain overnight and it's good to soft, good in places with a 50:50 ratio. It'll be breezy today, we could have gusts of up to 20-25mph.

"There'll be further rain pushing in tonight and we could end up with another 5mm but I've incorporated that into the going report. We had very decent ground before the 10mm of rain last night so it could be good to soft.

"We watched three horses have a canter and the Irish were really happy, they said it was lovely ground and described it as yielding, which is the slow side of good."

ITV are broadcasting four races live from Kempton plus the Rowland Meyrick handicap chase at Wetherby, where the going on Christmas morning was soft, good to soft in places.

The going at Leopardstown, for the first day of their Christmas festival, is good to yielding, yielding in places with further rain in the forecast this afternoon.

It remains soft to heavy at Limerick where the BoyleSports Faugheen Novice Chase is the feature contest on the seven-race card.

There are no significant non-runners across the 11 fixtures in Britain and Ireland on Boxing Day.

Read previews ahead of Boxing Day

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

1.55 Kempton: 'I'm very excited for Kempton' - Ahoy Senor and Bravemansgame face off again

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

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

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