Florida Pearl is included in star-studded Kempton entry

Kempton yesterday unveiled its biggest entry in recent years for the Pertemps King George VI Chase.

A total of 28 horses have been put in the Christmas feature, with five entries from Ireland and two from France. Seven of the first eight finishers in last season's Gold Cup have been put in the December 27th contest, including the winner, See More Business, the 1997 winner.

Irish entries include Florida Pearl and last year's third Imperial Call, while French trainer Francois Doumen has put Djeddah and Rubissimo in a race he has won four times in the past.

Entries: Aardwolf (J Old), Boardroom Shuffle (N Chance), Bouchasson (P Hobbs), Challenger du Luc (M Pipe), Djeddah (F Doumen), Dorans Pride (M Hourigan), Double Thriller (P Nicholls), Doctor Leunt (P Hobbs), Escartefigue (P Nicholls), Florida Pearl (W P Mullins), Go Ballistic (D Nicholson), His Song (M Morris), Imperial Call (R Hurley), Looks Like Trouble (N Chance).

Mulligan (D Nicholson), Northern Starlight (M Pipe), Or Royal (Mrs M Reveley), Rince Ri (T M Walsh), Rubissimo (F Doumen), See More Business (P Nicholls), Simply Dashing (T Easterby), Spendid (D Nicholson), Stormyfairweather (N Henderson), Strong Promise (G Hubbard), The Last Fling (Mrs S Smith), The Outback Way (Miss V Williams), Tremallt (T George), Tresor de Mai (M Pipe).

Notable omissions include Martin Pipe's Majadou - 10 to 1 in some ante-post lists for the race - and the Hennessy winner, Ever Blessed.

Kempton clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said: "With this entry the Pertemps King George has all the makings of a fantastic race.

"The highest entry in recent years had been 26 and the best overseas entry was four, so we have done really well numerically and the quality is also outstanding.

"All the big names are in it and while there is the rival attraction for the Irish of the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown the next day our race is worth almost double at current exchange rates and we will be doing everything we can to tempt at least a couple of them to travel over to Kempton.

"Francois Doumen is also set to come from France so it should be a truly international showdown."

The Grey Monk is in good heart following his successful return to action at Haydock on Saturday, and although the Grand National is his target he will not go back over fences until the spring.

He was having his first run for nearly a year when competing in a handicap hurdle and he impressed with an eight-length success over Scotmail Lad.

The plan now is to go for another handicap hurdle at Newcastle on December 22nd.

Richards also reported that his Becher Chase winner Feels Like Gold hads come out of the race over the big Aintree fences in good shape.