Kauto Star still has a chance to break record

KAUTO STAR’S bid to record a record fifth successive victory in the King George VI Chase could still become a reality. However, the Paul Nicholls-trained 10-year-old will have to wait until Kempton’s next jumps meeting, on Saturday, January 15th, if he is to go one better than Desert Orchid, who won the St Stephen’s Day feature four times (1986, 1988-90).

The relevant parties acted quickly to save the King George and the Christmas Hurdle after both days of the festive fixture fell foul of the big freeze.

The Sunbury track, with the help of the British Horseracing Authority, sponsors William Hill and the Levy Board, managed to reschedule the two contests.

Kempton managing director Amy Starkey said: “We are naturally bitterly disappointed to have lost the William Hill Winter Festival to the severe winter weather.

“Everyone at the racecourse did all that they could to get racing on, but the elements defeated us. Though it has not taken place at Christmas as we expected, the whole of racing can now start looking forward once again to Kauto Star’s bid to win a record-breaking fifth King George VI Chase at Kempton.”

All eyes are now on Ffos Las getting jumps racing out of the deep freeze tomorrow.

There has not been any National Hunt racing on turf since December 16th, but officials at the Carmarthenshire track are now “cautiously optimistic”.

Clerk of the course Tim Long said: “I’m not going to be making any rash predictions given the recent bitterly cold spell, but I am more hopeful today than I was 48 hours ago on Friday. We will consider holding an inspection on Tuesday morning. The ground is frost free under protective covers, which have an inch of snow on them.

“We need to get rid of that snow and, as we are forecast some rain overnight on Sunday with temperatures up to 4C, that will help us. Monday sees temperatures at 3C with more rain overnight. With a maximum daytime temperature of 7C forecast on Tuesday with no overnight frost previously, I am cautiously optimistic.”

Newbury are pinning their hopes for Wednesday on the prospect of a thaw setting in over the next couple of days. There is still snow on the course, but if the forecast is accurate that could disappear in time. The card features two Grade One races, the AP Wins Sporting Personality Long Walk Hurdle, transferred from Ascot, and the Sportingbet Supports Heroes Charity Challow Hurdle.

“Tomorrow we’re talking about plus 1C or 2C while tomorrow night it’s snow followed by rain. That is what is giving me hope at the moment,” said clerk of the course Richard Osgood. “After that it is set to get milder for a couple of days.”

Officials at Cheltenham will anxiously monitor temperatures over the next couple of days in the hope of staging the big New Year’s Day meeting. Communications manager Andy Clifton said: “We are currently covered in something like six inches of snow, and we are due to get no higher than minus 5C today. The next three or four days will determine what happens at the weekend. The forecast is not as encouraging as it was a few days ago, but we still have chances.”

Exeter are hoping their decision to scrap races on the chase course and have an all-hurdle and bumper programme on New Year’s Day will pay dividends.

An upbeat forecast for the week has given officials reason to be optimistic about starting 2011 on a high.

“At the moment we’ve got seven inches of snow on the course and it was minus 15C last night. That’s the coldest I’ve known it here and it was minus 4C this morning,” said clerk of the course Barry Johnson. “The weather is due to break tomorrow with rain on Tuesday and getting to plus 10C on Thursday and Friday, so we have every chance if the forecast is right.”

Musselburgh’s meeting on New Year’s Day is subject to a noon inspection on Wednesday. The Scottish venue is frozen and covered in five centimetres of snow.

Acting clerk of the course Harriet Graham said: “There could be another slight thaw, possibly on Tuesday, but it’s then due to get cold again on Thursday and Friday.

“On that forecast, we would be struggling.”

Today’s meeting at Wetherby and tomorrow’s Leicester programme were lost to the arctic conditions, while the remaining St Stephen’s Day fixtures at Fontwell and Wolverhampton were abandoned following early-morning inspections.