Ferdy Murphy says conditions at Wetherby are far from ideal as the course prepares to stage its first meeting of the new National Hunt season next Wednesday.
A number of trainers inspected the West Yorkshire venue yesterday having recently expressed concerns about the state of the track, which has been unable to stage any chase races since the widening of the A1 last year.
With the hugely popular Charl
ie Hall meeting just over three weeks away, Murphy believes there is still significant improvement needed.
"I have nothing pencilled in to run at Wetherby next week and we will just be watching the racing to see how things go," said Murphy.
"The ground is fast and we intend to give (clerk of the course) Jonjo Sanderson as much support as we can."
The British Horseracing Authority were happy enough with conditions to allow entries for next Wednesday's fixture to take place.
Communications officer Owen Byrne said: "Entries are being opened tomorrow for Wetherby's fixture on October 15 after a delegation of our inspectors of courses were there today to assess the going on the reconstructed section of the track.
"Progress over the past week has been good and there will be further watering and aeration in the run-up to the meeting."
The official going at the track is described as firm, good to firm in places.
John Oxx intends to run Mourayan in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster after the juvenile ran a fine race in defeat at the Curragh last time.
The Alhaarth colt was an impressive winner of a Leopardstown maiden on his penultimate start and emerged with plenty of credit when second in the Group Two Beresford Stakes.
"Mourayan ran a great race in the Beresford Stakes and if he continues to please us and do well in his work, the intention is to run him in the Racing Post Trophy," said Oxx.
Aidan O'Brien once again has a strong hand, with 25 horses going forward – including Rip Van Winkle, the current 2000 Guineas favourite.
Champagne Stakes winner Westphalia could also line up, as well as Alexandrova's brother Masterofthehorse, a close third in the Beresford Stakes.
TEN TIMES champion trainer Henry Cecil's assertion that he is "training better than I have for the last few years" will, no doubt, instil an element of fear into his peers as he prepares Phoenix Tower and Twice Over for the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes on Saturday week.
TODAY'S BESTDUKE'S DOUBLEKanpai (4.55 Newbury), nap and Dustry (3.15 Newbury).
DUKE'S TREBLEKanpai, Dustry and Romping Home (4.45 Southwell).
JULIUS'S DOUBLEArt Trend (2.20 Wincanton), nap and Orchard House (2.55 Wincanton).
FORMNAPPauntley Gofa (4.05 Wincanton).
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