Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford expects ground conditions to be on the soft side for the William Hill Winter Festival featuring the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

With the big race still over two weeks away, Clifford is keeping an eye on weather predictions.

"Walking the course on Sunday, I would call the ground good to soft, probably soft in places round by the lake bend. The forecast could indicate potentially another inch of rain between now and Boxing Day," he said.

"If I had to go for a going report at this stage, I would say it would be somewhere between good to soft and soft. That would be ideal.

"The weather forecast is quite volatile. We are 15 days away at this stage so I only know the forecast for the remainder of the week. Every meteorological site you look has swings, with temperatures that could be anything between minus 4C to plus 8C.

"We could get an interlude of milder weather, but I don't think there is a prolonged cold spell at this stage.

"We will use frost covers and take all the precautions necessary if required."

Clifford is looking forward to the popular two-day holiday fixture attracting bumper crowds as always. "Ticket sales are ahead of budget at the minute," he said.

20 June 2013

Rock tops Diamond contenders
Opportunity knocks for Green Door
Pretending has to be real stayer
Stack hopes are alive and kicking
Rock ready to roll
Estimate takes Gold test
Happy ending for Annecdote
Doyle hits treble top on Rizeena
Doyle fits the bill in Hunt Cup
Kazeem crowned Prince of Ascot
Cambridge Dun and dusted

19 June 2013

Godolphin swoop for Libertarian
Toronado pointed towards Goodwood
O'Brien keeps faith in Camelot
Perfect Ten in Jersey
Plenty of rain needed for Approval
Banoffee pencilled in for Haydock
Classic rematch in Coronation
Guest has excellent chance
Brittain sweet on Rizeena
Team O'Brien hope for perfect Ten
Chigun aiming for Cambridge glory
Camelot bids for redemption
O'Neill ace proves too sharp
Ballydoyle in command in Coventry
Dawn delivers in thriller
Sole powers to sprint glory
O'Brien sounds War cry

18 June 2013

Stevens is king of the Castle
Al Thani snaps up Sandiva
Minute's silence remembers Cecil
Duntle on Cambridge duty
Alive and Just in Ribblesdale mix
Passage heads Gold field
Deegan considers Soprano options
Toro out for Palace glory
Cecil's words not lost on Ponsonby
Dawn out for Palace redemption
Hawkwood supplemented for Hardwicke
Flotilla To Drop Back In Trip
Cecil's Chigun in Cambridge action
Al Kazeem and Camelot clash again
De Kock hoping to make history
War ready for Royal Ascot battle
Kingdom set to reign over Ascot

17 June 2013

Magician set for Palace showdown
Cat clings on for Carroll
Three more winners for Lady Cecil
Monaghan delivers on Midnight
Treve in stunning Diane win
Sapphire target for Trees
Beckett mulls Secret options
Nicholls has broken wrist