Emmet Mullins concerned over lack of watering at Kempton for Corbetts Cross

Emmet Mullins has warned that Corbetts Cross may not run in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase if the ground continues to dry out.

Any forecast rain is likely to be minimal and unlikely to have any lasting effect on the ground at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

The ground was described as good, good to soft in places on Monday – and should it dry out any further, Mullins may be forced to think twice about running his JP McManus-owned Cheltenham Festival winner.

“I’m very excited, he’ll be a first runner in the King George for me, so it will be a big day,” said Mullins, speaking on a press call organised by the Jockey Club.

“With Mr McManus having Fact To File for the Leopardstown race, I think he just wanted to cover his options and spread them out a bit (over Christmas).

“I thought his first run was satisfactory, the same horse (Heart Wood) beat him on his comeback last year as well. We’ve had a good enough prep and we’re nearly there now.”

However, when asked if the possibility of good ground was a concern, Mullins said: “Very much so. With these 17 hands chasers, you don’t want them running on good ground.

“At the Cheltenham Festival, everyone seems on board with getting it started on good to soft ground. I’d be very worried about good ground. Especially given the facilities there with the lake, there doesn’t seem to be any sign of any watering.

“There’s a chance he might not run, we have a championship chaser and they are not designed to run on good ground.

“Good to soft would be OK but it’s tightening up already and I see there’s no rain in the forecast for the next few days, so that will be a worry and I think it’s going the opposite way.”

Reflecting on his season to date, Mullins said: “He wasn’t fully wound up at Wexford but it was great to get that run under his belt.

“We had been thinking of the Betfair Chase but to go into a championship race, you need to be 100 per cent and even with the Wexford run, it hadn’t brought us on enough, so the extra few weeks helped and I think we’re nearly there now.

“My long-term aim with him is the Gold Cup and that will be the day he’ll be 100 per cent, hopefully.”

Clerk of the course Barney Clifford confirmed there are no plans to do any watering.

“It’s lovely ground really. Good, good to soft in places and there’s a drop of rain due to come through tonight.

“The going stick, which is consistent at Kempton, indicates a mixture of good and good to soft, so a drop of rain tonight would be lovely, but I think we’re set for a top-class going description for the King George.

“I think there’s a band coming tonight, which is minimal, only a couple of millimetres, then it will be bright, sunny and mild. I don’t think we’ll be far away from a good ground King George.

“Good ground is fine, I guess one or two would maybe like conditions a little bit easier, but I think because the way the forecast has been, I haven’t been able to change anything, so I won’t be irrigating to make it any slower than what it currently is.

“There’s plenty of moisture underneath. If you go back to November 28, we had an inch of rain in about half an hour and it was under water. It’s been steadily drying out, we’ve had 6.5mm this week, so I’m very happy.

“This is my 25th King George, my 24th in charge and I’d say this is probably the most competitive race I’ve seen, looking at it.”