Racing goes ahead at Kempton as track passes third inspection

Kempton's Saturday meeting has been cleared to commence following a third inspection at the track an hour before the opening race.

The course was subjected to heavy fog throughout the morning causing it to fail early morning inspections at 8am and 10am, but clerk of the course Barney Clifford determined the track visible enough for the fixture to go ahead.

The fog has lifted enough to make the track viewable for racegoers and despite lows of -4.5C overnight the ground remains soft, good to soft in places for the seven-race card that includes the feature £100,000 Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (2.40).

Warwick was also subject to an 8am inspection but racing was cleared to go ahead at the track following overnight frost.

Temperatures reached lows of -2C at Warwick, with the first race set for 12.40 ahead of the Agetur UK Ltd Classic Handicap Chase (3.00).

Warwick's clerk of the course Tom Ryall started out on another lap of the track just before 11am and reports there to be no concerns. A crowd of around 3,500 is expected for the track's big meeting.

The going remains soft (good to soft in places on the chase course) and Ryall said: "I expect it will ride quite tiring, it's likely to be tacky given the weather and frost sheets being down in certain areas.

"The grass frost has melted through the morning and we were pleased with what we saw first thing. We were quietly confident yesterday with the frost sheets down but you never quite know.

"There's not been too much fog about at all and we've been lucky in that respect as there was a fair bit more yesterday."

Paul Kealy's Saturday banker at Warwick

Green Book takes over in Lanzarote betting

Green Book has been backed into favouritism in the feature Lanzarote Hurdle (2.40) at Kempton, shortening into 5-1 with bookmakers to usurp overnight market leader Marie's Rock at the head of the betting.

The five-year-old completed a quickfire double at Haydock and Ludlow last month and is seeking his third one on the bounce in the £100,000 contest.

Green Book: new favourite for the Lanzarote Hurdle at KemptonCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Trained by Venetia Williams, Green Book is now two wins from four starts over hurdles and will offset a 8lb rise with the aid of 10lb claimer Ned Fox, who scored with the runner at Haydock.

Marie's Rock, who is now 13-2 second favourite, bids to land trainer Nicky Henderson his fourth winner in the contest since the distance was changed to 2m5f in 2007.

The seven-year-old mare will be seeking to follow up on an impressive course-and-distance success when last out on Boxing Day, with Nico de Boinville set to ride.

Market movers

Kempton
2.05 Eldorado Allen 2-1 (from 5-2)
2.40 Green Book 5-1 (from 6)
3.15 Wishing And Hoping 6-1 (from 8)
3.50 Royaume Uni 3-1 (from 7-2)

Warwick
2.25 Scipion 8-1 (from 18), Stag Horn 10-3 (from 9-2)
3.00 Gericault Roque 7-2 (from 4), Jerrysback 16-1 (from 18)
3.35 Riggs 9-4 (from 11-4), Sporting John 7-2 (from 5)

Read more:

ITV Racing tips: one key runner from each of the nine races on ITV4 on Saturday

'Better than anything we've had' - Henry Daly's high praise for exciting novice

Rachael Blackmore set to team up with Bob Olinger for first time over fences

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