Kempton ready for Stephen's Day bonanza

Kempton clerk of the course Brian Clifford is looking forward to a fantastic days racing at Kempton on St Stephen's Day and is delighted to have no weather worries.

The Sunbury venue will host the King George VI Chase as well as the Christmas Hurdle tomorrow and Clifford reports ground conditions to be near perfect .

“The hurdle track is probably riding on the slow side of good and the chase course is just genuine good ground,” said Clifford.

“It’s clear skies here at the moment and we are supposed to get a bit of cloud cover later on. Temperatures are only set to get down to two degrees tonight, rising to three of four degrees on Boxing Day.

“I believe there is a colder wind coming through so it will feel cold at the races but I don’t anticipate any problems.”

Market Rasen clerk of the course Nick Patton is not anticipating any problems at the Lincolnshire venue, but has warned racegoers to leave plenty of time for the journey.

“Everything is looking fine and we have a dry forecast so it is good to have no weather worries,” said Patton.

“We do want everyone to leave in good time as we have on or two travel problems but we are looking forward to a good competitive days racing.”

It is a similar story at Huntingdon with clerk of the course Andrew Morris not expecting temperatures to drop below freezing overnight.

“We should be absolutely fine as we are forecast highs of six or seven degrees today and the lowest temperature we could get down to tonight is plus one, so we don’t expect any frost,” said Morris.

“Everything is set for a good day and we’ll be hoping for a good crowd.”

Wetherby stage a high-profile card with the skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase taking top billing in West Yorkshire.

Clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson is delighted with how the Grade Three contest has shaped up and does not anticipate any problems ahead of racing.

“Everything should be spot on and we are really looking forward to what should be a cracking day,” said Sanderson.

“It could get down to four degrees overnight so it is nothing dramatic and it might get to six degrees tomorrow so nothing is concerning us at this stage.

“The Rowland Meyrick looks a great race with Tidal Bay in there, Mister McGoldrick is a course specialist and we have the Charlie Hall one-two in State Of Play and Ollie Magern.”