Heavy ground all but ruled out for King George following dry night at Kempton

Kempton looks set to avoid heavy ground on King George VI Chase day with the forecast rain in the early hours of Christmas Day failing to come.

The track's clerk of the course Barney Clifford said conditions had dried on Christmas Eve and in the early part of Sunday but the ground officially remains soft.

There is still a risk of heavy showers in the build up to Kempton's card, which features four Grade 1 prizes, but Clifford does not expect going conditions to alter.

Speaking on Christmas Day morning, Clifford said: "We didn’t get too much rain, which was nice. It was damp but nothing measurable. We’re forecast heavy showers today, the sky looks full of rain, but as it stands we're in good nick.

"I don't think we'll get heavy ground, the chances are vanishing and if anything it's gone the other way – the ground has dried a bit in the last 24 hours. If we get those heavy showers we'll take it. I'm calling it soft but it does walk better than that."

L'Homme Presse remains a strong favourite for the Ladbrokes-sponsored King George, with 15-8 the biggest available price.

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