Racing: Deluge of support for Hustler

THE FELLOW, ante-post favourite for the King George VI Chase, eased in odds lists yesterday as rain eased the Kempton Park turf and the bandwagon of support for Young Hustler continued.

More than an inch of rain fell at Kempton over the weekend and, despite racecourse officials emphasising yesterday that the track dries quickly, bookmakers believed that The Fellow may encounter ground too testing for him to show his best form.

Ten horses are expected to line-up against the French horse on Boxing Day as he attempts a record-equalling third successive victory in the race.

Twelve accepted yesterday for the event but one of them, Cool Ground, is expected to run instead in the following day's Welsh National.

Barton Bank, another leading fancy for the King George, also drifted in the betting yesterday. He is now available at 4-1 - and Saturday's impressive Betterware Cup winner Young Hustler, also on offer at 4-1 - may well overtake him as the main home hope.

KING GEORGE VI CHASE (best odds available last night): 11-4 The Fellow (Ladbrokes), 4-1 Barton Bank (Sporting Index) & Young Hustler (Coral), 8-1 Black Humour & Bradbury Star (Ladbrokes), 16-1 Travado (Sporting Index) & Rolling Ball (William Hill), 20-1 Docklands Express (Sporting Index, William Hill and Coral) & Zeta's Lad (Sporting Index, Ladbrokes), 66- 1 Another Coral & Cool Ground (William Hill), 100-1 Nevada Gold (Ladbrokes).