King George VI Chase now on January 15th

to nobody´ s great surprise, today´s Kempton meeting has been abandoned (together with all other jumps racing today). It is now planned to run the two Grade One races originally scheduled for Boxing Day, the King George VI Chase and the Christmas Hurdle, at Kempton on January 15th. The good news is that temperatures are set to rise in the U.K. and Ireland this week, so the prospects for later in the week are improving. There is a good chance that jumps racing - the first in 12 days- can be staged tomorrow at Ffos Las, while hopes for Newbury´s big Wednesday meeting and Cheltenham´s New Year fixture are also rising (though not yet 100%). Prospects in Ireland too are improving, so that at least the second half of the Christmas week meetings at Leopardstown and Limerick may be able to be staged.