McKenzie told The Courier large tarpaulin covers – jointly funded by the state government and Racing Victoria – had been used to keep rain off the surface since the club’s meeting on July 26 was transferred to Geelong because of wet weather.

Despite the transferal, Ballarat retained both the Grand National Steeplechase and JJ Houlahan Hurdle from that race-day to run them this weekend.

McKenzie said a section of the track from the 450m mark to just after the winning post had been covered at varying stages to have it ready for Sunday’s card.

“There’s no question the track is still not draining as quickly as it should. There’s still an issue with the compaction, which we’ve had since after we did the big renovation, but it has improved out of sight since this time last year,” he said.

McKenzie said any rain that was kept off the track before Sunday was a bonus.

“We just need some warmer weather and the track to take the rain fall in terms of drainage a bit more rapidly,” he said.

Just three horses which were accepted to run in the two jumps features on July 26 have not been renominated for Sunday’s program.

Dan O’Sullivan-trained Tuscan Fire and Anne McGrath’s Mannertone are both missing, while former JJ Houlahan acceptor Another Legend – prepared by Amy McDonald – has been nominated to run in the BM120 Steeplechase, 3200m, on the same card.

That steeplechase will be one of two other jumps races outside the features, with heat five of the Rookies Jumpers Series, 3200m, also among the day’s events.

NOMINATIONS (extended to 10am Wednesday)

JJ HOULAHAN HURDLE, 3200m: ABOUT THE JOURNEY (Eric Musgrove), AGREEMENT (Eric Musgrove), ANGELOLOGY (Patrick Payne), CROSS CONSTANCE (Rachael Cunningham), FIELDMASTER (Patrick Payne), STAND TO GAIN (Bob Challis), URBAN EXPLORER (Eric Musgrove), VATUVEI (Peter Moody), WESTSOUTHWEST (Robert Smerdon), ZUHAYR (Tony Rosolini)

GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE, 4500m: BASHBOY (Ciaron Maher), DUMOSA (Barry Brook), KING OF DUDES (Aaron Purcell), KING TRITON (Pat Hyland), LONGSHAW (Fran Houlahan and Brian Johnston), NO SONG NO SUPPER (Patrick Payne), RABBUKA (Eric Musgrove), SEA KING (Patrick Payne), SPARTON (Keith Horobin), THUBIAAN (Eric Musgrove), TRADED (Anthony Cosgriff), URBAN EXPLORER (Eric Musgrove), ZATAGLIO (Eric Musgrove), ZUHAYR (Tony Rosolini)