Conditions at Kempton Park ahead of the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase meeting are progressing well, with good to soft ground a likely scenario for next week’s action-packed fixture.
The Christmas Hurdle, which is set to feature stars like Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth, and the wide-open King George—where Grey Dawning, Corbetts Cross, and Il Est Francais are among the entries—promise a thrilling Boxing Day spectacle.
Clerk of the course Barney Clifford provided an update on the conditions and outlook:
"We’re good to soft at the minute. We had 1mm of rain overnight, and we’re expecting up to 10mm tonight, which will ease things slightly. After that, there’s not an awful lot of rain forecast. If I had to give a going report now, I’d say good to soft, but it all depends on what happens tonight."
Clifford highlighted the track’s recent challenges with wet weather:
"We raced on November 21, and the day after, we had an inch of rain in an hour, leaving the track unraceable for days. It hasn’t been dry weather since."
As the races take shape, Friday’s supplementary stage could bring additional entries, potentially altering the landscape of the meeting. Clifford added a note of caution:
"The races are shaping up great, but it’s a bit early to say. You only have to mention a horse, and something can go wrong."
Racing fans can look forward to an exciting festive showcase at Kempton, with top-class horses set to light up the track on Boxing Day.