Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has his say on Kempton closure plans

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls would favour a move to Ascot rather than Sandown for the King George VI Chase if plans to close Kempton come to fruition.Owners Jockey Club Racecourses announced on Tuesday proposals to close down the King George's traditional home for housing redevelopment "from 2021 at the earliest".Should those plans come into fruition, the Jockey Club - which plans a £500million investment in the sport over 10 years - hopes that one of the most prestigious National Hunt races of the season will be switched to sister course Sandown. But Nicholls told Betfair: "I have had so many magical days at Kempton, some of the best of my career with lots of success, including nine winners of King George VI Chases, five of them by Kauto Star. "So obviously I dread the thought of the doors at Kempton closing for the final time and hope it doesn't happen."And while I think all my King George winners would also have won the race at Sandown, because they stayed so well, I am not in favour of the proposal to switch the race there."Given the choice, I'd move it to Ascot, a much more suitable venue from a racing point of view as it is an outstanding jumps track with excellent facilities and the necessary infrastructure to accommodate a large crowd."Just imagine around more than 30,000 jumping enthusiasts at Ascot on Boxing Day for the most important jumps race in mid-winter."That would be superb, much better than the race being held at Sandown which would be packed out with half that amount of people."Plus the fact that the ground is almost always bottomless there at that time of year."These are things that need to be seriously considered if Kempton is sold."Seven-times champion jumps jockey John Francome also believes any potential transfer of the King George to Sandown would have a damaging impact on the great race.Francome, who twice won the Boxing Day highlight during his riding career, is adamant such a move would be a "huge mistake".He told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek: "A lot of horses that have won the King George at Kempton aren't good enough to go and win at Cheltenham, and they wouldn't win at Sandown."It (Kempton) is right on the edge of the M25 - beautifully positioned. The ground is really well drained. It's a proper test and it's part of our history."It's a completely different track catering for different types of horses. At Sandown, Cheltenham and quite a few other tracks, you race downhill."Horses get to free-wheel. There's no free-wheeling at Kempton. It's a really, really good test."It's level, it's fair and you've got to be able to lay up with the pace the whole way."In many ways, it's the fairest test that there is."I just think it will be a huge mistake."