THE prospects of racing at Naas on Sunday improved significantly yesterday following a dry and bright day. The track had been unraceable for most of this week following heavy rain.

Naas manager Eamonn McEvoy said: “It’s been a lovely day here but there is still plenty of rain forecast and it’s a case of fingers crossed that some of it misses us.”

Earlier in the week three races on the sprint track were cancelled and two extra seven-furlong races on the round track were added to the programme. “We carried out some remedial work on the straight track over the winter and it just became saturated,” McEvoy said. “The races on the round course won’t be affected. I would like to thank Horse Racing Ireland for acting quickly this week.”

McEvoy said that, even if racing goes ahead on Sunday, he does not expect any Aidan O’Brien-trained horses to work on the track afterwards.

No problems are expected at Saturday’s Navan meeting or Sunday’s fixture at Limerick. The ground is heavy at both venues.

Last Sunday’s cancelled Wexford meeting has been rescheduled for next Wednesday. The forecast is for approximately 20mm of rain in the area prior to racing.