Clifford expects Kempton going to remain unchanged

Clerk of the course Barney Clifford expects the going to remain good to soft, soft in places for 32Red King George VI Chase day at Kempton with up to 10mm of rain forecast for Monday night.

Only 0.5mm of rain fell at the Sunbury track on Monday morning, with varying forecasts predicting 5-10mm on Monday night. Clifford feels 4-5mm will be needed to maintain the current going description.

It is forecast to be bright, breezy and, most importantly for the thousands descending on Kempton, dry during racing on Tuesday.

Clifford said on Monday: "The track is in tremendous shape – in the main it's good to soft. It's a bit easier around the lake bend and there are good patches, but I think they'll disappear with the band of rain that is forecast tonight.

"The GoingStick has provided the same readings – 6.4 on the chase course and 6.1 on the hurdle course – on three consecutive days. I can't remember that happening before.

"If we did miss all the rain, there would be an element of good in the description, but we're anticipating rainfall overnight."

Tickets are available for all enclosures, although the premier enclosure is expected to sell out by mid-morning.

The going for Wetherby's card, which features the 188Bet Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase, has improved to soft, good to soft in places (from soft).

Wetherby clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson said on Monday: "It's been predominantly dry for two or three days and breezy in the last 36 hours so the ground is drying a little bit.

"We're due a mainly dry day today with only 2-3mm of rain this evening then a dry day tomorrow."

December 26 cards

Tickets are available in the paddock and course enclosure, with a bumper crowd expected.

He said: "We're delighted with the quality and quantity of runners and ticket sales have gone really well – the premier enclosure sold out a couple of weeks ago."

The going at Leopardstown on Monday remained yielding, good in places in advance of the first afternoon of a four-day meeting highlighted by the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase.

There are no planned inspections for the 11 meetings across Britain and Ireland.

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