Kempton '50-50' but hopes still rising

The persistent cold spell has already eaten into the Christmas programme but officials at Kempton remain hopeful about their prospects of staging the prestigious William Hill King George VI Chase meeting on St Stephen's Day.

The meetings at Market Rasen and Towcester have already gone, inspections have been called at Wetherby, Wincanton and Huntingdon, although Fontwell are upbeat.