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Friday’s racing round-up includes confirmations for the King George VI Chase…
Confirmations are in for the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton on December 26, with Spillane's Tower overtaking Grey Dawning at the top of the market following his supplementation. The JP McManus-owned six-year-old is Ireland's leading hope, arriving on the back of a half-length second to Fact to File in a star-studded renewal of the Grade 1 John Durkan Chase in late November.
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Across the Kempton card, Nicky Henderson throws down the gauntlet in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle, entering stable-stars Constitution Hill and Sir Gino. Constitution Hill's much-publicised injury woes saw him miss his intended comeback in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, where he was successfully deputised for by the unbeaten Sir Gino, who was originally forecast to go over fences this season. They are set to be opposed by a raider from across the Irish Sea in Lossiemouth; Willie Mullins' Champion Hurdle favourite also sits at the top of the market for the Boxing Day event.
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Haydock's Saturday card is under threat due to high wind speeds forecast in northern parts of Britain. The seven-race card is headlined by the Tommy Whittle Chase, but plans could be scuppered by projected 40mph gusts at 11am at the Lancashire track. Officials at Newcastle and Wolverhampton have also expressed their concerns about conditions at the weekend.
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David Pipe's Windbeneathmywings has been shortened for the Champion Bumper after annihilating his rivals in the Listed King Edward VII Ascot Membership Open National Hunt Flat Race at Ascot. Under a prominent ride from Jack Tudor, the Irish bumper winner produced an impressive fourteen-length success, with the Skelton's 9/4 favourite Moneygarrow unable to handle to the pace set by the eventual winner.
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In the feature race on the card, the Grade 2 Howden Noel Novices' Chase, Gary and Josh Moore's Mark Of Gold emerged triumphant over Ben Pauling's Personal Ambition, who made a costly error at the last fence with the win at his mercy. The JP McManus owned Johnnywho – a well-supported favourite going into the race – failed to jump with fluency throughout, eventually being tailed off to finish a fifteen-length third.
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Lorcan Williams has been handed a fourteen-day suspension for using his whip four times above the appointed level Captain Bellamy, who was first past the post in the Visit Warren Greatrex Racing At Rhonehurst EBF Stallions "NH" Novices' Hurdle at Newbury on Wednesday.