Updates from the big one at Kempton and other racing newsTalking Horses: Lostintranslation looks perfect for King GeorgeAnd feel free to email Tony here or tweet @tonypaley 11.48am GMT
It’s doubtful that may of the racegoers packing into Kempton Park today know the track is still under threat from the developers. Greg Wood wrote about the situation in November. As he pointed out: “on 10 January [2020], we will reach the second anniversary of the announcement by Jockey Club Racecourses (JCR) that it plans to sell Kempton for housing, switch the King George to Sandown Park and build a new all-weather track on the Club’s home turf in Newmarket.” And it is still in fdanger. You can read the full story here:
Related: Kempton Park still under threat from developers – Talking Horses 11.01am GMT
There will be a big name missing from tomorrow’s Kempton card too as Altior, whose unbeaten record over fences finally came to an end when he was beaten by Cyrname at Ascot in November, will miss his intended run in the Desert Orchid Chase due to a foot abscess.
Altior would have been sure to start at long odds-on for his return to racing at around two miles, the trip at which he compiled a 19-race winning streak over hurdles and fences.Unfortunately #Altior will NOT run @kemptonparkrace tomorrow due to an abscess. The timing is awful so we may look at the Silviniaco Conti Chase (over 2m4f) back at Kempton on January 11th.