Kempton set fair for a blockbuster Boxing Day

Conditions are set fair at Kempton ahead of what promises to be a fascinating Ladbrokes King George VI Chase day.

As if one of the most wide open King Georges for years was not enough to whet the appetite, the prospect of Lossiemouth versus Constitution Hill in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle promises to light up the National Hunt season.

Following a relatively dry spell, the going at Kempton is good, good to soft in places after a damp night but no measurable rain.

One horse no doubt pleased to be back at Kempton is Il Est Francais, so impressive in winning the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase 12 months ago. However, he arrives on the back of bursting a blood vessel at Auteuil last time out.

He is one of three runners trained in France, while along with Corbetts Cross the Jimmy Mangan-trained Spillane’s Tower, Henry de Bromhead’s Envoi Allen and Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge Ireland is also well represented.

Previous winner Bravemansgame, Dan Skelton’s Betfair Chase runner-up Grey Dawning, L’Homme Presse and The Real Whacker complete a fascinating field.

Understandably, clerk of the course Barney Clifford is counting down the hours to a grandstand occasion.

He said: “We had a damp night, yesterday was the same but it wasn’t any amount that we could measure, really.

“The forecast is pretty much the same, a misty and foggy morning and a damp old day. I should stop it from drying out any further I’d imagine.

“Everybody that rode out this morning was very pleased with the ground and it is as described.

“It’s a phenomenal card to look forward to. You could write a strong case for any one of the runners in the King George.

“I walked the course with David Cottin this morning and he thinks his horse Juntos Ganamos is going to run a really big race yet he’s one of the outsiders, along with The Real Whacker who was fourth last year and won the Charlie Hall last time out.

“When you think back to what Il Est Francais did last year in the Kauto Star – if he’s had a trouble-free passage this year he could be anything.

“Then away from the King George you’ve got a fascinating Christmas Hurdle that has got everybody talking and a really interesting Kauto Star with The Jukebox Man and a few others – it should be a great day.”