THIS year's King George really is a Christmas cracker, with Irish challengers Don Cossack and Vautour among the star names featuring in the 10 horses heading to Kempton for the Boxing Day showpiece.

Don Cossack, trained by Gordon Elliott, has been the star performer over fences so far this season with impressive victories at Punchestown and in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.

He is owned by Gigginstown House Stud, who have two other possibles in Noel Meade's Road To Riches and Valseur Lido, trained by Willie Mullins.

The latter is also responsible for Vautour, emphatic winner of the JLT Novices' Chase at last season's Cheltenham Festival and successful on his reappearance in the Stella Artois 1965 Chase at Ascot last month.

Leading the home team is Colin Tizzard's Cue Card, who has returned to his best this term with wins in Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase and the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

Silviniaco Conti was beaten seven lengths by Cue Card on the latter occasion, but cannot be discounted as he has won this race for the last two years.

Al Ferof, a former Nicholls inmate, has finished third in the last two renewals of the King George and showed his well-being with a facile victory in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon earlier this month – his first outing for Dan Skelton.

Another strong contender is Smad Place, who was given the go-ahead to run after the devastating Hennessy Gold Cup winner satisfied trainer Alan King in a workout on Monday morning.

"He schooled grand and Wayne (Hutchinson, jockey) was very happy with him," said the Barbury Castle handler.

"He's been confirmed for the King George and, at this stage, everything is going according to plan."

Completing the 10 are David Pipe's Ballynagour and the Rebecca Curtis-trained Irish Cavalier.

Also on the Kempton card is the Christmas Hurdle and a chance to see reigning Champion Hurdle hero Faugheen.

Trained by Willie Mullins, he lost his unbeaten record in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November, but is likely to be a short price to gain redemption.

Faugheen could be joined in the line-up by stablemates Arctic Fire and Nichols Canyon, the surprise winner of the Morgiana.

In the same race, Sam Twiston-Davies would have a big decision to make if Old Guard (Paul Nicholls) and The New One (Nigel Twiston-Davies) are both declared.

Nicholls said the former's participation is subject to a "strong piece of work" in the build-up to the race, but would not stand in the jockey's way if he chose to ride The New One, trained by his father.

Closer to home, Seventh Sky could make a quick reappearance at Wetherby on Boxing Day in the feature race, the Rowland Meyrick. The eight-year-old, who was runner-up to Top Gamble at Ayr, relished heavy conditions and the step up to just short of three miles when making all to win the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase by seven lengths at Haydock Park last Saturday.

Trainer Charlie Mann said: "Seventh Sky might turn out quickly for the Rowland Meyrick. He comes out of his races so well and did not lose any weight after Haydock.

"He has always been a very consistent horse – he had 16 runs last year, winning five – but I ran him in two silly races this season behind Coneygree and Vautour purely through lack of options.

"They dropped him 1lb for finishing second in the Grand Sefton and, but for that, he would not have been qualified for the Tommy Whittle as that was a 0-145. He is obviously going to go up a bit in the handicap and there are now very few races for him.

"He was running over two miles and two-and-a-half miles last season and maybe I have been getting his trip wrong. He just gallops away and goes on any ground, although he handles soft very well.

"He just has the most amazing constitution. He eats up straight away and if we don't run him, he actually puts weight on. I have never had a horse quite like him."

Also racing on Boxing Day is Sedgefield, with the first race due underway at 12.10pm. As ever, a big crowd is expected at the popular venue.