Kempton going 50:50 between good to soft and good ahead of King George card

The ground at Kempton on Christmas Day was described as being a mix of good to soft and good.

The track had been good to soft in the days leading up to Christmas but a dry spell has seen ‘good in places’ added to the description in advance of a two-day meeting starting at 12.50pm on Boxing Day.

Kempton's clerk of the course Barney Clifford, speaking on Christmas Day, reported: "It has been an overcast day and it is forecast to stay the same into Boxing Day too. There should be a mist in the morning and we’re expecting daytime temperatures in the region of eight degrees.

"I would say there is as much good ground out there as soft ground, so how it will ride will depend on the horse you are on. It should be perfect ground for racing."

Kempton officials are understandably delighted with the quality of the 32Red King George VI Chase - plus ten runners is also a better than usual turnout - while Buveur D’Air and Altior, along with a cracking line-up in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, add further lustre to the meeting

Clifford added: "It’s a fantastic card and we’re lucky to host two good days of sport. I’m really looking forward to it."

There are no inspections planned at any of the 11 meetings in Britain and Ireland. The going at Leopardstown, where the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase is the St Stephen’s Day highlight, was given as yielding on the hurdle track and good, good to yielding in places on the chase course.