Kempton Christmas Festival: Your Complete Guide

Boxing Day (26 December): King George Day

The biggest day by far, and one of the best days in the entire jump season. The racecourse fills to capacity as families fresh from Christmas dinner descend alongside professionals who have been poring over the King George market for weeks. The atmosphere is boisterous, festive and genuinely expectant.

The King George VI Chase (Grade One, 3m) is the race that matters. Run since 1937, it has produced some of the most famous wins in chasing history: Arkle's dominant victories in the 1960s, Desert Orchid's eight appearances (four wins), Kauto Star's back-to-back triumphs in 2007 and 2009 and his extraordinary victory in 2011. The race attracts both dedicated Gold Cup contenders and course specialists, and the two groups often clash with fascinating results.

Boxing Day's undercard has improved significantly in recent years. The Christmas Hurdle (Grade One, 2m) attracts Champion Hurdle contenders looking for a run before the Festival, while the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase (Grade Two, 2m5f) has launched numerous top-class careers. For ante-post followers, the novice chase is worth watching closely: Kempton's sharp circuit quickly exposes horses with jumping deficiencies that might not show up on more galloping courses.

The crowd is huge, the queues at the bars are long and the car park fills early. Allow extra time for everything on Boxing Day.

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27 December

The second day of the festival draws a smaller but still substantial crowd, and the card is a genuine test for progressive horses stepping up in class. The Desert Orchid Chase (Grade Two, 2m) is the day's highlight — a tribute to the grey legend who made Kempton his own personal stage across a decade of extraordinary races.

The December meeting on this day often features a strong novice hurdle that attracts Supreme Novices' Hurdle contenders getting experience before Cheltenham. The atmosphere is more relaxed than Boxing Day, queues are shorter and you can see the races without the Boxing Day crush. For the serious race-watcher, 27 December is often the better day to visit.

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28 December

The final day of the Christmas Festival rounds out the meeting with a card that skews towards younger horses and progressive handicappers. The going may have cut up after three days, making the Polytrack all-weather card (which runs on 27 and 28 December) potentially more significant for those who prefer a surface that doesn't vary.

The mood on 28 December is the most relaxed of the three days. The King George afterglow is fading, the season's next major target (Cheltenham) is still weeks away, and the racing has a pleasant end-of-year quality about it. A good day for a long lunch and a moderate wagering budget.

King George VI Chase (Boxing Day, Grade One, 3m)

The King George is jump racing's Christmas gift to itself. Three miles around Kempton's sharp, flat circuit, the race has a history rich enough to fill a library. Desert Orchid won it four times and ran in it eight. Kauto Star achieved the remarkable feat of winning it twice, losing it, and then winning it again. Arkle won it in 1965 by 20 lengths and made the field look like they were racing in a different sport.

The race's unique character comes from its timing and its course. Running six weeks after Cheltenham's November meeting and eight weeks before the Gold Cup, it attracts horses at different stages of their season. Some trainers specifically target the King George; others use it as a Grand National prep. The Kempton circuit — flat, right-handed, with tight turns — rewards jumping accuracy over athletic ability, and horses that excel at the King George do not always replicate that form at Cheltenham.

Key form angles: horses that have run well in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November tend to go well here (both are right-handed, flat tests). Gold Cup form from the previous March is a reliable guide to ability, though course preference often explains wide differences in performance. Watch for horses with a record of fast, accurate jumping — at Kempton's pace, a mistake at the second-last can cost the race.

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Christmas Hurdle (Boxing Day, Grade One, 2m)

The hurdling counterpart to the King George, attracting Champion Hurdle contenders looking for a racecourse run in the second half of the season. Two miles around the sharp circuit is an honest test of speed and jumping; horses that win here tend to have a quick, economic style over hurdles rather than the elastic, more spectacular jumping of the bigger gallopers.

Stat to note: mares have a strong record in the Christmas Hurdle — the flat, fair Kempton circuit seems to level the playing field between the sexes more than most tracks.

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Desert Orchid Chase (27 December, Grade Two, 2m)

Named after the grey who defined Kempton across a generation of Boxing Days, this Grade Two for two-mile chasers regularly produces a race of genuine championship quality. It serves as a trial for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and the race's winners often have strong Kempton records — the track suits a specific jumping style and experienced horses that have been here before have a clear advantage.

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Wayward Lad Novices' Chase (Boxing Day, Grade Two, 2m5f)

Named after the three-time King George winner of the 1980s, this novice chase provides a first look at the season's best new chasers in a competitive Grade Two environment. The race can be brutal on horses that have been impressive in lower-grade novice events — Kempton's sharp turns expose jumping technique that works fine on more galloping tracks.

Horses that win the Wayward Lad cleanly — particularly those that do so without being seriously tested — tend to make up into very good chasers. A win here under a big weight is a significant statement.

Betting the King George

The King George market is one of the most analysed in jump racing. The ante-post betting opens almost immediately after the Betfair Chase in November and the market shifts significantly with each piece of news — injury, going changes, stable whispers. Here is a structured approach.

Form guide: The Betfair Chase at Haydock (Grade One, 3m1f, November) is the single best trial. Both races are right-handed, flat-ish tests that reward consistent galloping and accurate jumping. Haydock winners go well at Kempton with notable regularity. Similarly, the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham can produce King George winners, as its testing course builds stamina.

Course specialists vs Gold Cup horses: The King George is not always won by the best horse in the field — it is often won by the best horse at Kempton. Horses with multiple wins on the flat, sharp circuit have a demonstrable advantage over pure galloping types. Check whether the leading fancies have Kempton-friendly form.

Weight for age: The King George is open to all ages from four years upward, and younger horses (five and six-year-olds) have a weight-for-age advantage over older rivals in December. An improving five-year-old with solid Cheltenham form can overhaul an experienced older rival on these terms.

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Key Angles for the Undercard

The Christmas Hurdle attracts horses whose season objectives are clear: if a trainer is targeting the Champion Hurdle, this is a logical stepping stone. A horse that wins the Christmas Hurdle well tends to go to Cheltenham in good nick. The market usually reflects this efficiently, but early ante-post prices before final confirmations can offer value.

For the novice races, look for horses that won their maiden or beginners' chase in dominant fashion and have an entry in the Arkle Trophy or JLT at Cheltenham. These horses are often targeted specifically at Boxing Day by trainers who want a competitive Grade Two experience before the Festival.

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Practical Notes

The King George betting ring is packed on Boxing Day — queues at the bookmakers are long and prices move quickly in the final minutes before the off. Get your bet on early (within half an hour of the off) or use a betting exchange. The Tote pool is substantial and can offer better each-way returns on longshots.

Getting There

By train: Kempton Park station (South Western Railway from London Waterloo) is directly adjacent to the racecourse — one of the easiest racecourse arrivals in Britain. Journey time from Waterloo is approximately 35-40 minutes. Services are frequent on Boxing Day, though trains fill quickly after racing. Check timetables in advance as Christmas service patterns differ from normal.

By car: Kempton Park sits between the M3 and M25, with access from the A308 and B376. Boxing Day traffic around this part of Surrey can be severe — the M25 junction 12 and M3 junction 1 are both busy in the late afternoon. Pre-booked parking is available on-site and strongly recommended for Boxing Day.

By bus: Services from Kingston upon Thames and Staines run to the course on race days. Less convenient than the train but an option from those directions.

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Enclosures

Grandstand: The main public enclosure with covered viewing, bars and restaurants. Smart casual dress code.

Paddock: Premium enclosure with full facilities and best access to the parade ring. Book in advance for Boxing Day.

Picnic Area: Open on warmer days but not ideal for December. Stick to the covered stands in winter.

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Essential Tips

• Book Boxing Day tickets months in advance. It sells out every year without exception. The week after Christmas is often available on shorter notice.
• Dress warmly. Kempton in late December is cold, and the course's flat, open aspect offers limited shelter from wind. Layers are sensible regardless of forecast.
• Arrive by midday on Boxing Day. Gates open from 10:30am and the car parks fill significantly by 1pm. The King George runs at approximately 3:30pm but you'll want time to settle before the main event.
• The King George crowd is knowledgeable. This is a racing crowd — the atmosphere is passionate and informed, with less of the general public noise you get at a Grand National or Cheltenham Festival day. Expect real debate in the bars and betting ring.
• The all-weather card on 27 and 28 December is a good option if you want a quieter visit. Kempton's Polytrack programme is well-attended year-round and the December meetings often have competitive fields.