D-day for Kempton showpiece

Fixtures have been wiped from the National Hunt programme on a daily basis during the current cold snap, but it would be a crushing blow to lose the Boxing Day fixture and with it the highly-anticipated reappearance of the most popular jumps horse in training, Kauto Star.

Officials at Kempton were working round the clock yesterday to try and protect the course from the elements, but a decision will be taken at noon.

Temperatures once again plummeted to below freezing on Wednesday night, with some of the course covers frozen to the turf. Further severe frosts are forecast from now until Sunday's meeting, and clerk of the course Barney Clifford reported: "Temperatures have got up to just above zero today, but it is still bitterly cold.

"There is more cover visible than there is snow, but in places, the covers are still stuck to the grass. The wind-chill factor this morning was measured at minus 6.5C. The forecast is not too bad for tonight, getting down to minus 3C.

"It's then minus 5C going into Christmas Day and minus 6C at dawn on Boxing Day. The Met Office tell us we are due an estimated wind-chill factor of minus 9C. With the covers stuck to the track, there's not a lot you can do."

Inspections are also planned at the last two remaining Boxing Day meetings at Wolverhampton and Fontwell. The meetings scheduled for Wetherby, Huntingdon and Wincanton yesterday became casualties alongside Towcester and Market Rasen from earlier in the week.

The Coral Welsh National which had been scheduled for Monday was also lost to the weather yesterday when officials at Chepstow reported that the course remains unfit for racing and there is no prospect of conditions improving sufficiently over the next few days.

Officials have moved quickly to save the entire card, however,, with the meeting now set for Saturday, 8 January. Chepstow were due to race on Sunday, 9 January but have exchanged places in the racing calendar with Sedgefield. "We won't race on Monday and the card will take place on Saturday, 8 January," said clerk of the course Keith Ottesen. "We've got a slot for some races to be televised on the BBC that day.It's great to get the race saved - as long as the weather is all right."

Hopefully, Kempton will survive, especially with history-seeking Kauto Star due to face to a final stellar of 11 runners.

Paul Nicholls' star chaser is bidding for an unprecedented fifth consecutive victory in the Festive highlight and will be partnered by champion jockey Tony McCoy for the first time following the late withdrawal of Noel Fehily.

Nicholls is also represented by The Nightingale, while Nicky Henderson sends out a strong pair in Long Run and Riverside Theatre. Long Run won the Feltham Novices' Chase in brilliant style on this card 12 months ago, with Riverside Theatre unbeaten in four course starts. Last season's Arkle Trophy hero Sizing Europe is joined by Forpadydeplasterer on the trip from Ireland.

Nacarat, Albertas Run, Madison Du Berlais, Ollie Magern and Planet Of Sound complete the line-up.

The three defectors from the confirmation stage were the Nicholls-trained pair of What A Friend and Noland and Henderson's Burton Port.

Henderson could not be happier with Riverside Theatre and Long Run. "It's not us that has over-hyped Long Run," said the Seven Barrows handler. "The one thing you have to say is that he was breathtaking when he won the Feltham. He beat a top-class field and that is the horse he is. He's a very good horse and he will get there (to the top). He's got plenty of time.

"Riverside Theatre is completely in love with Kempton and that's why he's going there,"

Barry Geraghty is looking forward to riding Riverside Theatre, owned by actor James Nesbitt. "He's won four out of four at Kempton so he really likes the place," said Geraghty. "It's a stiff task to take on Kauto Star, but he's as good a chance as anything."

Sizing Europe has filled the runner-up spot on his last couple of starts, chasing home Kauto Star in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal last time. Trainer Henry de Bromhead is under no illusions about the task in hand as his charge prepares to lock horns with a horse he describes as a "legend".

"He's been in very good form and we're very pleased with him," said the Irish trainer. "We hope he's improved since his last run but we are taking on a legend so to finish in the first three or four would be a fantastic run. It's not a case of playing for places - you always want to win - but we are taking on a horse rated 20lbs higher than us.Our run in Down Royal was better than that but he (Kauto Star) seems a different horse at Kempton."