King George support continues for Ahoy Senor - now as short as 9-1

Your one-stop shop for the day's big-race action at Kempton, Leopardstown, Limerick and Wetherby

Ahoy Senor has been particularly popular with punters for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (2.30) and is now as short as 9-1 with Sky Bet, having been as big as 16-1 overnight.

The Lucinda Russell-trained seven-year-old has been disappointing in two starts this season, most recently finishing third in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree this month, but has been well backed to pick up a third Grade 1 win of his career.

Ahoy Senor was beaten by leading King George contender Bravemansgame over course-and-distance in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase on the same card last year, as well as when a distant fifth on his comeback in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

However, he did comprehensively beat his regular rival and L'Homme Presse when a dominant winner of the Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree's Grand National meeting in April.

Ahoy Senor is a 10-1 chance with Paddy Power and the firm's spokesperson Paul Binfield reported support to have come for the talented chaser.

He said: "We currently can’t separate Bravemansgame and L’Homme Presse at the front of the market, although the latter is weaker in the betting.

"We’ve seen some support for Scottish raider Ahoy Senor despite him being well beaten by Bravemansgame in the Kauto Star here last year."

Envoi Allen: back to his best last timeCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Envoi Allen has also been well supported to make it back-to-back wins for Ireland in the prestigious contest.

The eight-year-old returned to his best at the top level last time when victorious in Down Royal's Champion Chase in November and is now a general 9-2 for success, having been as big as 8-1 earlier in the week.

Should Envoi Allen win, it would be first successes in the King George for trainer Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore, who were out of luck last year when leading contender Minella Indo was pulled up.

Updated at 1.15pm

'It's lovely racing ground' - soft conditions expected for King George cracker

The Ladbrokes King George VI Chase is set to be run on "lovely" ground after Kempton missed heavy overnight showers on Christmas Day.

The going remains soft at the track after 2mm of rain overnight and Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford expects it to remain that description throughout the card.

Speaking at 8.15 on Monday morning, he said: "We had 2mm of rain overnight and missed the heaviest of the showers.

"It's lovely racing ground and when walking the track, I think it could be a bit quicker than soft but I think the jockeys will call it soft, so that's what I'm calling it."

The seven-race card features three other high-class Grade 1s alongside the King George, with the top-level action beginning with the rescheduled Long Walk Hurdle (12.45) from Ascot's big pre-Christmas card.

Clifford added: "It's set to be a glorious day, with four Grade 1s on the card it'll be phenomenal. We're sorry that Ascot's big card was lost to the cold snap but it's great we can step in and save a race like the Long Walk Hurdle too."

Wetherby: stages the Rowland Meyrick Handicap ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

The going at Wetherby, which features the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (1.35) alongside Kempton on ITV, is good to soft, soft in places, with a dry and bright afternoon forecast.

More blockbuster action comes from Ireland as Leopardstown's Christmas meeting gets under way, with the going soft on the hurdles track and yielding, soft in places on the chase course.

Limerick's four-day feast begins today, with the going soft, heavy in places for its card, which features the Grade 1 Guinness Faugheen Novice Chase (2.40).

Down Royal's meeting had been subject to a morning inspection following a yellow weather warning overnight of ice, but the track is fit to race and its card goes ahead as planned.

Updated at 8.35am

Welcome to jump racing's Christmas present - King George day at Kempton

Christmas Day has been and gone in the conventional sense but for racing fans, Boxing Day, or St Stephen's Day in Ireland, is the real festive treat.

The champion of Christmas will be crowned in today's feature contest, the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (2.30), where Paul Nicholls bids for a 13th win in the prestigious Kempton race.

What a race it's going to be. L'Homme Presse and Bravemansgame are two of the most exciting second-season chasers in training and have duelled for market supremacy throughout the build-up, while a resurgent Envoi Allen provides the Irish angle in a top-class showdown.

We must not forget Hitman, nor 2020 winner Frodon, who will be partnered by his best friend Bryony Frost. Royale Pagaille, Ahoy Senor, Eldorado Allen and Millers Bank complete a stellar field.

As the odds suggest, the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (1.55) is perhaps a forgone conclusion. That does not make it any less exciting, however, as we watch Constitution Hill strut his stuff with Champion Hurdle-winning stablemate Epatante.

Elsewhere, the resurrected Long Walk Hurdle (12.45) is round five between Champ and Paisley Park, but the young pretenders Miranda and Goshen will look to spoil the party for the golden oldies.

Winners of the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase (1.20) include Dynaste, Coneygree, Tea For Two and Bravemansgame. McFabulous, Galia Des Liteaux, Gelino Bello and Thyme Hill have the hallmarks of potential top-class chasers and will battle for the honours.

If you are a fan of competitive handicaps, look no further than the William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (1.35) at Wetherby. Shan Blue fell three out when well clear in the 2021 Charlie Hall Chase at the course and bids to give Dan Skelton another big winner.

In a year marred by small fields, unseasonal weather and underwhelming clashes, this is the perfect tonic: top-class horses, (mainly) competitive fields and perfect winter ground. What more could we ask for?

Posted at 7am

2022 King George VI Chase offers

• Paddy Power are giving away free bets to new and existing customers. All you need is an account. Sign up here.
• Sky Bet are offering new customers free bets when they sign up. You can get them, along with money-back specials and extra places, here.
• Betfair have lots of offers, extra places and money-back offers. Sign up for a new account here.
• To get a free bet from Ladbrokes today, simply sign up to a new account here.
• Don't have a Coral account? They have an offer for new customers here.
• bet365 have a new customer offer available. Sign up here.
• New William Hill customers can claim free bets here and benefit from their money-back offers here.
• If you're a new customer, Tote will give you a free bet. Sign up here to claim.

Introducing the ITV Racing Christmas Festival

The ITV Racing Christmas Festival features six days of top-class action on the channel from 12 different tracks in Britain and Ireland between December 26 and January 1.

Some 41 live races will be shown in all, including eight Grade 1s such as the King George VI Chase, with the Welsh Grand National and Cheltenham's New Year's Day card among the big-race highlights across a spectacular six days of racing on terrestrial television across the festive period.

December 26
Kempton: King George VI Chase day
Wetherby: Rowland Meyrick Chase day

December 27
Chepstow: Welsh Grand National day
Kempton: Desert Orchid Chase day

December 28
Leopardstown: Savills Chase day
Leicester

December 29
Leopardstown: Matheson Hurdle day
Doncaster

December 31
Newbury, Warwick and Lingfield

January 1
Cheltenham, Musselburgh and Tramore

Big-race previews:

12.45 Kempton: Champ v Paisley Park again: who comes out on top in a match of familiar foes?

1.10 Leopardstown: Triumph favourite Lossiemouth set for true test - but Paul Townend is unsure

1.20 Kempton: Nicholls pair McFabulous and Gelino Bello clash - but does Skelton hold the ace?

1.35 Wetherby: 'We hope he's still a Gold Cup horse' - Rowland Meyrick insight and key quotes

1.55 Kempton: Henderson on Constitution Hill: 'I'm buzzed up - but also desperately nervous'

2.20 Leopardstown: 'This has been the plan' - can classy Fil Dor bolster Arkle claims for Elliott?

2.30 Kempton: 'We haven't seen the best of him yet' - key trainer quotes for the King George

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