It’s looking like a 50:50 chance as to whether the racing at Kempton Park will go ahead on Boxing Day, although if the King George VI Chase does takes place, then Kauto Star will be the strong favourite at odds of 11/10 with bookmakers William Hill to land a fifth consecutive crown in this race.

There has been no stopping the Paul Nicholls-trained horse every Christmas for the last four years and the trainer is feeling bullish about the star horse’s chances in the race, even though the weather conditions have not made preparations ideal.

“It’s the worst weather we’ve had at home by a long way – we have never had snow lying on the ground like this – and apart from our gallops, nothing has been salted and you can’t ride them (horses) anywhere,” said Nicholls.

“The only day we couldn’t work them at all was Friday but we’ve been able to get them on the horsewalker for a couple of hours, that sort of thing.

“But Kauto was out this morning and he did his couple of canters up the hill.

“We’re back to normal now and for Kauto, there’ll be no excuses for fitness.”