He said: “We had a low of 4C overnight and we’re up to 6C or 7C now and it’s a beautiful, sunny morning.

“We’re forecast to get down to minus 1C overnight, but we’ve covered all the vulnerable areas and we’re set fair for a couple of great days.

“It’s beautiful ground. It’s gradually improved the last few days and we’ve changed the going this morning to good to soft, good in places.

“I suppose it’s unusual to have your biggest event of the year at the end of the year, but that is the case with us. Everything has been gearing up for the next couple of days and everyone has done a fantastic job.”

While the King George itself is perhaps lacking the brilliance provided by incredible five-time winner Kauto Star, Clifford believes a fascinating contest is in prospect.

“Looking at the average ratings of the runners in the race, it must be one of the best King Georges we’ve had for a few years,” said Clifford.

“Kauto Star was obviously a phenomenal horse with a great following, but we’ve got a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner in Champagne Fever, Al Ferof is a class horse, Cue Card was the horse everyone was talking about going into last year’s race and last year’s winner Silviniaco Conti is back to defend his crown.

“Tickets are still available for all enclosures, but I would advise people to get here early as we are expecting a big crowd.”

In previous years Clifford has filled in as a work rider on Christmas Day morning for some of the Irish raiders, most notably giving dual Christmas Hurdle winner Harchibald a leg stretch on a couple of occasions.

However, having hung up his riding boots, this time he watched from the sidelines as Champagne Fever and this year’s Christmas Hurdle hotpot Faugheen went through their paces.

Clifford said: “I probably could have sat on either Champagne Fever or Faugheen, but I haven’t sat on a horse for three years, so I thought it best I left them to it!

“There are four Irish horses here in all, which is great, and they all seem to have settled in well.”

Despite deciding to call a morning inspection, Sedgefield’s clerk of the course Sophie Barton is hopeful racing at the County Durham track will go ahead.

She said: “Temperatures could dip down to minus 2C tonight, so it’s sensible to have a look, just to be on the safe side.

“We’re raceable today and there is no frost in the ground whatsoever.”

Temperatures at Wetherby are also set to dip below zero, but clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson is not expecting to stage an official inspection.

The high-profile meeting is set to feature the William Hill Rowland Meyrick Chase.

“Some forecasts are saying temperatures could dip down to zero and others are saying they could get as low as minus 1C or minus 2C, but even the lower end shouldn’t give us any problems,” said Sanderson.

“I would only hold a precautionary inspection if temperatures looked like getting down to minus 3C or minus 4C, but I haven’t seen a forecast that is saying that could be the case as yet.”

It is a similar story at Market Rasen, with clerk of the course Jane Hedley not expecting just one night of frost to threaten racing.

She said: “It is forecast to get very cool in the next 24 hours or so, possibly down to minus 2C tonight, but we’re not expecting any problems.

“It’s been as high as 12C in the last few days, so there should be plenty of warmth in the ground and one night of frost wouldn’t usually be enough to worry you.

“We’re confident we’ll be fine and we’re expecting a bumper crowd.”

Fontwell are set to stage a seven-race card and clerk of the course Ed Arkell is hopeful the prospect of dry weather will bring in the crowds.

Arkell said: “Everything is looking fine. We might get down to zero tonight, but we’ve covered all the take-offs and landings and we should be fine.

“We’re forecast a dry and sunny day for the rest of today, which will hopefully encourage people to come racing tomorrow.”

Temperatures are not forecast to dip below freezing at Huntingdon, while Wincanton’s clerk of the course Barry Johnson is looking forward to what he describes as the track’s “big day of the year”.

“Temperatures could get down to minus 1C tonight, but there was no frost last night and we’re not worried at all at this stage,” said Johnson.

“It’s our big day of the year tomorrow, so we’re hoping for a crowd of 10,000 plus. Everyone is always in the Christmas spirit and it’s always a great day out.”

Towcester will stage its final Boxing Day card, having lost the meeting from next year onwards.

Clerk of the course Robert Bellamy said: “The track was white in a few places (on Christmas Day), but there is no frost in the ground and we’re perfectly raceable.

“We should be absolutely fine and it is nice to have a clear run at it.”

The going on the all-weather at Wolverhampton is described as standard, while there are no problems anticipated ahead of the three Irish fixtures at Leopardstown, Limerick and Down Royal.