Kauto Star's bid for a record King George crown is put on ice

Paul Nicholls' brilliant chaser will have to wait until Kempton's next jumps meeting on Saturday, 15 January to go one better than Desert Orchid, who won the Boxing Day feature four times (1986, 1988-90).

The relevant parties acted to 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 re-schedule the two contests. Kempton's 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. However, we, and all of our partners within racing, are delighted that the two major races will be held on William Hill Lanzarote Hurdle day.

"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 William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton Park."

The BHA will confirm the finalised details for both races in the next few days. Kempton had done their best to stage today's card but, like the Boxing Day programme, had to admit defeat to the weather.

Clerk of the course Barney Clifford said: "The temperature got down to minus 7C overnight, a degree worse than we had been forecast.

"However, whereas we were forecast 1C and 2C during Sunday, it hasn't got above minus 2C and was still minus 5C in the middle of the morning.

"Not only are the protective covers still frozen to the grass, there is now frost in the ground because of the longevity of these frosts.

"We would need daytime temperatures tomorrow to be above zero quite early in order for the covers to be removed in time for the 11.50am start, but that just isn't going to happen.

"There is no chance of the frost coming out of the ground. Milder temperatures are not arriving in time, so even a contingency of considering racing on Tuesday isn't possible."

Meanwhile, Musselburgh's meeting on New Year's Day is subject to a 12pm inspection on Wednesday.

The East Lothian venue is frozen and covered in five centimetres of snow.Southwell is the only meeting left standing this afternoon after the loss of Kempton and Wetherby, while Leicester's planned meeting tomorrow was also called off yesterday, although Ffos Las are becoming more hopeful of getting British jump racing out of the deep freeze tomorrow.

Although there has been a slight thaw, temperatures are due to drop again towards the end of the week.

Acting clerk of the course Harriet Graham said: "It's not very good news at the moment.

"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."

Officials at Cheltenham will also anxiously monitor temperatures over the next couple of days in the hope of staging the big New Year's Day meeting.