Aintree predicts good to soft ground with Kempton approaching good, Leopardstown to water ahead of three-day meeting

A clear weather forecast over the Christmas period is expected to dry conditions at Aintree in advance of the Grade 1 William Hill Formby Novices' Hurdle. 

The track has been affected by extreme weather this season, including the cancellation of the Becher Chase this month, but it will suffer no such issue this time with the going predicted to dry back to good to soft for the Boxing Day meeting. 

Dan Cooper, who alongside Jon Pullin, is helming Aintree while Sulekha Varma is on planned leave, said on Monday: "There are slight showers and drizzle about today but overall it's drying ground. 

"It's breezy and we've got a mixture of good to soft, soft in places at the moment. We have an excellent cover of grass, as we're using the outermost course, which avoids all our Grand National line and is pretty much unused ground. 

"It's dry from this evening to Boxing Day, with even sunny spells on Wednesday. There's no doubt with the forecast it will dry out, so my estimate would be good to soft all round." 

Meanwhile at Kempton, where Constitution Hill is set to take on Lossiemouth before a blockbuster King George, clerk of the course Barney Clifford has maintained a going description of good, good to soft in places. 

When pressed on Monday about the potential for good ground all round, he said: "I think we won't be far away from that."

Constitution Hill: set to make his comeback at KemptonCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

More Grade 1 action can be found at Leopardstown, which kicks off its three-day Christmas festival with the Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase. 

Conditions are good to yielding, yielding in places on the chase course and yielding, good to yielding in places on the hurdles track after five millimetres of rain over the weekend. With dry conditions forecast, the track will water to maintain the going. 

Showers also reached Limerick over the weekend, with eight millimetres hitting the south-west track before another four millimetres on Monday. The course, which stages a Grade 2 novice hurdle, is yielding to soft, soft in places and should have dry weather over the next two days. 

A dry festive period is also anticipated at Wetherby ahead of the William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase, although there is risk of slight showers on Tuesday.

"We are good to soft, good in places after a little rain over the weekend," said clerk Jonjo Sanderson. "It's been quite blustery but on Monday it was overcast and much calmer. 

"We're forecast maybe two millimetres of rain on Christmas Eve, if we do get something, otherwise we've got dry, calm and benign conditions over the next couple of days. Boxing Day looks to be a bright, sunny day, and about ten degrees, which is great news."

Read these next:

Il Est Francais surges to head of King George market - but Emmet Mullins sounds Kempton ground warning for Corbetts Cross 

Nicky Henderson: 'This time last year you’d be mortified if Constitution Hill was beaten, but it’s going to happen one day' 

Racing Post Christmas Quiz: test your knowledge against John Randall for the chance to win £350 in betting vouchers 

Top jockeys such as Harry Skelton can't do their jobs without it – and you can subscribe to Racing Post Members' Club Ultimate Monthly and get 50% off your first three months!

Available to new subscribers purchasing Members' Club Ultimate Monthly using code MEMBERS24. First three payments will be charged at £24.98, subscription renews at full monthly price thereafter. To cancel please contact us at least seven days before subscription is due to renew.