Scotia It`s getting cold in the Scotland.

Whats the betting?

To beat Kauto? dont think so

Bookmakers slash Deep Purple for King George

DEEP PURPLE caused a ripple in the ante-post market for the William Hill King George VI Chase when winning the Totesport.com Peterborough Chase on Thursday by six lengths.


Trainer Evan Williams was shocked by the manner of the performance, but is now keen to take on Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Totesport and Ladbrokes cut Deep Purple to 12-1 (from 25) for the King George, while William Hill and Stan James go 14-1 (from 25).

Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams said: "Another classy display of jumping from Deep Purple was enough to convince us he could be an interesting contender for the King George. Few horses will arrive at Kempton with the winning form of Deep Purple."

Peterborough Chase runner-up Tartak was also shortened for the King George with Totesport going 20-1(from 33) and both Stan James and Victor Chandler making him a 25-1 shot (from 66).


Also on Thursday, declarations were made forSaturday's Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham and a pair or Irish raiders were the main movers.

Stan James slashed Sky's The Limit to 8-1 (from 14) for the 2m5f Grade 3, while Paddy Power were more restrained in making him a 12-1 chance (from 14). Both firms also cut Jayo to 16-1 (from 20).

Celestial Halo remains popular for the Boylesports International Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle second was shortened to 4-6 favourite (from 8-11) by Stan James, Paddy Power and Ladbrokes

Big chill threatens British jumps meetings


FREEZING conditions could wreak havoc on British jumpsfixtures later this week, according to meteorologists, who predict that an easterly weather front will bring with it icy blasts, frost and snow showers.

Groundstaff and volunteers have been deployed at racecourses over the past 48 hours, laying frost sheets at the potentially worst affected areas, in a bid to thwart freezing conditions, which have already claimed Ayr on Monday and Folkestone on Tuesday.

Ascot clerk of the course Chris Stickles said on Tuesday: "Temperatures we can expect depend on what forecast you read. My forecast for Tuesday is for -2C, whereas the BBC suggests -4C.

"We don't expect Wednesday and Thursday night to be quite so cold, though we may see some light snow showers on Thursday and Friday.

"The frost covers went down on Monday. Hopefully they will do their jobs and give us raceable ground for our meetings on Friday and Saturday."

Similar scenes were evident at Uttoxeter and Haydock, where racing is scheduled for Friday and Saturday respectively.

Uttoxeter's clerk of the course Keith Ottesen said last night: "Without taking the precaution of these covers, the fixture would be in considerable doubt.

"The tricky issue we face is freezing temperatures on Friday morning after a low of -4C on Thursday night."


Kirkland Tellwright, clerk of the course at Haydock, said on Tuesday: "The frost covers are going down tonight and we expect a sequence of freezing nights to follow.

"We expect Thursday and Friday to hit -3C. Hopefully the frost covers will maintain the ground."

Official's at the most northerly British tracks due to host racing this week, Newcastle (Saturday) and Carlisle (Sunday) were also anxiously checking forecasts on Tuesday.

James Armstrong, clerk of the course at Newcastle, said: "We have had a couple of damp and miserable days and the going has eased to soft, good to soft, but we have been spared freezing temperatures.

"We are expecting freezing temperatures and have deployed frost sheets on all landings, takeoffs and start areas, and will take action on Wednesday to protect any exposed areas, which is most of the back straight."

Andrew Tulloch, clerk of the course at Carlisle, said: "We're raceable as it stands but we're forecast temperatures as low as -3C over the rest of the week.

"If it gets down that low it all depends on the daytime temperatures, as to whether the ground will remain raceable."

It`s that cold this morning that im typing this with my nose,to be able to keep my arms underneath the Douvet..

morning Hibby just out the pool,

lol

Nicholls issues positive update on Kauto Star


KAUTO STAR has come on a ton for his seasonal reappearance at Haydock, trainer Paul Nicholls said on Thursday as he gave a positive update on the horse aiming to make turf history on Boxing Day.


Four straight wins in the William Hill King George VI Chase is Kauto Star's goal, and the sponsors rate him an 8-13 chance to trump Desert Orchid's four non-consecutive King George victories.

A piece of work on Wednesday in company with racing's top-rated hurdler Big Buck's has given Nicholls all the signals he wanted.


"He worked very well and has come on a ton for Haydock," said Nicholls, whose star landed the Betfair Chase last month by a nose from King George second- favourite Imperial Commander.

"That race has mentally sharpened him up. A run changes them, and he now looks better and sharper. I couldn't be happier."

Nicholls added that decent ground and the fact Kauto Star stays well would counteract any feeling the track does not suit the dual Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.

"He hangs left and he jumps left there," Nicholls added.

Up to 10cm of snow could fall at Kempton on Friday but, according to clerk of the course Brian Clifford, temperatures should rise from Christmas day onwards.

Hills, sponsoring the December 26 highlight for the first time, believe a win for Kauto Star would be a sensational result for the sport, and racegoers will be encouraged to wave special cards bearing the number four on them should Kauto Star win.

Kempton's managing director Amy Starkey said the idea had been borrowed from the cricket world. "It is about embracing what is great for the sport," she said.

Martin Pipe, speaking at a launch event in London's Ice Bar, where drinks are served in a room kept at -5 degrees, described King Georgerunner Madison Du Berlais, trained by his son David, "in great form".

"Last year he beat Denman twice, so who knows? Ours always improve for a second run, but he needs to improve to win," Pipe added.

Kempton 'in good shape' for King George day

KEMPTON is confident that Kauto Star will have the opportunity to bid for a fourth consecutive William Hill King George VI Chase success on December 26, with the clerk of the course Brian Clifford deeming the course "in good shape" for its biggest day of the year.

Clifford said on Saturday: "We are perfectly raceable today and obviously we've put the covers on.

"The forecast for this evening is for an advanced weather warning of 1-10cm of snow and the temperatures through to Christmas eve are averaging -3°C overnight and 2°C in the day.

"It has been suggested that the weather could go a little milder Christmas Day into Boxing Day and, on that forecast, we don't envisage any problems.

"The course is raceable after -4°C on Friday night and the covers are in use. Because of the measures taken we look in good shape for Boxing Day."

Kauto Star is a short-priced favourite for the King George, with Ladbrokes going 1-2. Blue Square quote the Paul Nicholls-trained star at 4-6.

Kempton are 1/4 on Betfair to stage the King George meeting on Boxing Day.

Haydock was backed at 1/100 to go ahead before the weather turned arctic on Saturday.

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin commented: "With sub-zero temperatures forecast for the next few days, we need the anticipated warmer spell from Christmas day onwards to materialize.

"But as we saw with Haydock on Sunday, weather forecasts are not always the most reliable. If they are wrong, let's hope they are so in Kempton's favour, otherwise that betting could alter dramatically later this week."

At midday on Sunday, it was 3/1 the meeting would fall victim to the weather.

Well if it was Joburg racing would be off today, have had to get out of bed to switch of the electrics during a massive storm in Pretoria.

good night again

Ffos Las '4-6' to beat frost on Monday - clerk


FFOS LAS'S clerk of the course Tim Long on Sunday afternoon estimated that Britain's newest racecourse was a "4-6 shot" to pass its 8am inspection on Monday.


Sleet and snow showers are likely on Sunday night and temperatures may drop to -1°C, but vulnerable areas of the course have been covered with frost sheets.

Long told racingpost.com on Sunday: "I'd be very hopeful because we could have raced on Sunday and the minimum temperature overnight is not expected to dip below -1c.

"If that proves to be accurate we should be all right, because the daytime temperature may get to 4c or 5c."

He added: "We've covered vulnerable areas with frost sheets and, in betting terms, I reckon we're 4-6 to race."

14 left in the King George

Txs Bob, go Kauto