King George set to be run on 'beautiful' ground with more rain forecast

Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford is hoping for extra rain to ensure softer ground for the King George VI Chase meeting, but is confident Sunday's festive showpiece will be run on "beautiful" ground.

The ground at the track is good, good to soft in places, but milder and wetter conditions are forecast for Christmas Eve, with the possibility of 5-10mm of rainfall on Saturday night.

Should that materialise, Clifford expects to change the going to good to soft, good in places on Boxing Day, when the King George is one of three Grade 1s on the card alongside the Christmas Hurdle and the Kauto Star Novices' Chase.

Clifford said: "It's lovely ground, but I could do with a drop of rain to ease everyone's minds. Championship racing could do with being on the good to soft side rather than good at this time of year.

"There's rain in the forecast – probably not as much as indicated earlier in the week – but it'll be beautiful ground. I'm hoping if the rain arrives that good to soft, good in places will happen."

Last year's King George won by Frodon (right) was played out behind closed doorsCredit: Edward Whitaker

Clifford said tickets will also be available for purchase on both days, but the Premier Enclosure is sold out on Boxing Day. An NHS Covid-19 pass proving double vaccination, a negative lateral flow or PCR test within 48 hours of raceday must be shown on entrance to Kempton.

"It may slow up admission a little bit, but it's imperative that we carry out the government's directions," he added. "Ticketing has been very good all the way through. We've had to keep an eye on capacity and I wouldn't think it would be far off a very decent-sized crowd.

"I think everybody will be respectful of each other. Wear masks if possible as that's the best practice."

Officials at Leopardstown have continued watering the chase course on Thursday but are factoring in the possibility of 10-15mm of rain before the Christmas festival gets under way on the same day.

The track has been at the centre of criticism in recent years for delivering ground considered too quick by some at a number of its flagship meetings, and Gordon Elliott and Eddie O'Leary this week emphasised the need for safe conditions.

Clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer said on Thursday: "We had 3mm of rain since yesterday morning and the going is good to yielding on both the hurdles and chase tracks.

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"The forecast is generally dry for Thursday and unsettled on Friday and Saturday, with the possibility of 10mm to 15mm of rain in advance of racing on Sunday. We're watering the chase track on Thursday and monitoring it thereafter."

Rain could also hit Limerick before the Munster venue's four-day festival on Sunday.

Clerk of the course Val O'Connell said on Thursday: "We've had 5mm of rain since the entry stage [on Monday] so the ground at the moment is soft to heavy. We're mainly dry on Thursday into Friday but have rain on Friday into Saturday. We're not sure exactly how much, with the possibility of 15mm to 20mm of rain before Sunday."

Significantly more rain is expected at Down Royal's fixture and clerk of the course Tracey O'Meara said: "After 14mm of rain overnight, the ground is currently good to yielding, yielding in places, with approximately 40mm of rain forecast between now and racing."

No tickets will be available on the gate at Leopardstown for the four-day Christmas festivalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

At Leopardstown there will be no tickets available for purchase on the gate. Limerick will not be selling tickets on the gate for December 26 – with limited availability remaining to purchase online – but they can be purchased on the gate for the three remaining days.

Read these next:

2021 King George VI Chase: why this horse can win the big race at Kempton

Confirmed runners and riders for the King George VI Chase - plus an early tip

Paul Nicholls: Clan Des Obeaux and Frodon are the pair to beat

The Punting Club: 'I think he'll let down odds-on backers at Kempton' - big-race festive views

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