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The stage is ready for a Boxing Day spectacular at Kempton, with clerk of the course Barney Clifford anticipating a “sensational” afternoon’s racing.
Following a spate of deserted fixtures throughout the latest chilly snap, a welcome rise in temperatures this week means a full programme is ready to go forward for one of many greatest days within the sport, with 11 conferences scheduled to happen throughout Britain and Eire.
Kempton may be very a lot the main focus of consideration on British soil, with the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase the centrepiece of a card enhanced by the Lengthy Stroll Hurdle, which was saved and rescheduled from final weekend’s deserted card at Ascot.
Clifford has been the person answerable for the bottom on the Sunbury observe for over twenty years – and after having fun with his ordinary course stroll on Christmas Day morning, the previous Nationwide Hunt jockey can hardly anticipate the motion to start.
He stated: “I have been right here since 1999 and to have 4 Grade Ones on Boxing Day is sensational actually.
“Sadly Ascot misplaced out with the Lengthy Stroll, however at the very least we have been in a position to stage and reschedule it, which has not occurred right here earlier than in my time.
“We had been all disenchanted for all the opposite racecourses that misplaced key fixtures and income streams. We’re delighted it is delicate anyway.”
In years passed by Clifford has taken the observe on Christmas morning on horseback, with the top-class hurdler Harchibald among the many Irish stars he has put by way of their paces.
He stays on the bottom lately, however likes what he has seen from this yr’s Irish King George challenger Envoi Allen, who’s skilled by Henry de Bromhead and will likely be ridden by Rachael Blackmore.
Clifford added: “It was enjoyable again within the day. I used to journey Willie Mullins’ horses, Francois Doumen’s horses and Harchibald for Noel Meade, however I needed to retire correctly someday!
“Envoi Allen arrived on Friday night, cantered on Saturday morning and cantered once more this morning. He appears wonderful and has a tremendous pores and skin on him. Hopefully they will have a great journey.
“I feel Envoi Allen may be the worth of the race. Once I final regarded he was 7-1 or 8-1 and also you suppose to your self if he hadn’t had just a little hiccup alongside the best way he’d be 2-1.”
Assessing the King George area general, he stated: “The one factor you want round right here is pace. I’ve at all times stated Bravemansgame is my A horse so to talk, however in saying that I feel the bottom may need come for Envoi.
“It will likely be a hell of a race. There are different horses in there and at an enormous value I would not rule out Royale Pagaille. He is received kind round right here and wishes a dig within the floor.”
So far as the all essential going is worried, Clifford views it as good leaping floor.
He added: “It is pretty floor actually. I am going to maintain it at comfortable, however there may be higher floor round there isn’t any query about that. It walks higher than it’ll most likely journey, however we’ll see what the jockeys say.
“The sky appears stuffed with rain but it surely’s not raining in the mean time. There’s heavy showers forecast at the moment, however hopefully Boxing Day will likely be a dry day hopefully.
“We had 20 millimetres of rain on Friday in the long run. We had 18mm in an hour and a half after which a heavy bathe within the afternoon giving us one other two millimetres.
“Clearly lots of people on the market have been doing a rain dance – I wished them to cease at about 10am on Friday! We had a dry day on Saturday after which a little bit of dampness in a single day, however nothing measurable.”
PA
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