There has been a concern in National Hunt racing of late about the amount of entrants for races.
Numbers have been down in jumps fixtures, which is causing huge consternation in some quarters.
Today’s Boxing Day cards may well bring the issue to the fore again, although the traditional meeting at Wetherby looks to have fantastic entries, which is great.
I am certainly going along there to get some fresh air and to enjoy some good Yorkshire racing, and I hope lots of you will join me.
It seems the weather forecast is encouraging and there is always a terrific atmosphere at Wetherby, so if anyone is at a loose end after a busy Christmas Day I would encourage you to go along.
The big race of today is the King George VI Chase at Kempton, which has the makings of a really competitive renewal.
I’ve backed Champagne Fever, trained in Ireland by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh.
Silviniaco Conti is the obvious favourite for Paul Nicholls – who has eight King George victories already including five with Kauto Star – but I just think Champagne Fever looks the part after the way he jumped in Ireland last time out.
He could well be another Mullins horse that’s a star in the making.
