Officials at Fontwell are increasingly optimistic Sunday's big meeting will stave off the threat of waterlogging.

Clerk of the course Edward Arkell called an 8am inspection tomorrow morning after 23.5 millimetres of rain on Thursday night left the ground saturated.

Although another 5mm of rain fell yesterday (Friday) morning, a prolonged drying spell has given Arkell reason to be hopeful.

He said: "I'm astounded how well the track has taken the rain.

"We are basically there, but I'm still not 100 per cent happy - hence the inspection staying in place.

"The other good news is that the rain which was forecast for Sunday has been pushed back and should not come until after dark.

"Providing the forecast is correct, we shouldn't have any problems."

The feature race on the card is the Grade Two totepool National Spirit Hurdle, in which a bold show from Kilcooley could earn him a trip to the Cheltenham Festival.

Charlie Longsdon's six-year-old looked a novice of some promise last season when winning successive races at Market Rasen.

He also opened his account for the current campaign with a wide-margin victory at Haydock in December.

Kilcooley disappointed when pulled up in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton early in the new year, but Longsdon is expecting better at Fontwell tomorrow.

The Chipping Norton handler said: "He's had a nice break since his last run and we will see how he goes there.

"If he runs well we might look at the Coral Cup (at Cheltenham).

"His run last time was a bit flat but it was his fourth run inside the space of two months.

"If he doesn't run well it will be back to the drawing board.

"Although he bolted up at Haydock, I would say his strongest piece of form was in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury when he finished six lengths behind L'Ami Serge and nine lengths ahead of Violet Dancer."