RACING: Christy Roche will challenge for a major prize in Britain on Saturday but it is now unlikely to be with Le Coudray at Ascot.

Instead the Curragh trainer is aiming Silver Steel at Uttoxeter's Singer & Friedlander National Trial where Timmy Murphy is set to take the ride.

"Silver Steel disappointed us behind Cloudy Bays at Leopardstown when he was pulled up but nothing has come to light since so we will run. Hopefully Timmy Murphy will be on board," Roche said yesterday.

Silver Steel could end up being the sole Irish runner in the Uttoxeter marathon as What Odds is more likely to wait for Sunday's National Trial at Punchestown.

Le Coudray was a 9 to 2 shot with Coral for the Grade One Ascot Chase but is now more likely to wait for Leopardstown's Hennessy Gold Cup on Sunday week.

"Because we're not sure of the weather he is unlikely to run at Ascot. It would be a killer if we travelled over and then it wasn't on. I'm happy to wait for the Hennessy," Roche added.

In other news, yesterday Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) insisted that the improvement of racecourse finances remains a priority despite the failure to implement a one per cent levy on racecourse bookmaker's turnover.

Instead the levy has increased from 0.3 per cent to 0.5 per cent, a move that has left racecourses demanding the balance be made up by HRI.

The Association of Irish Racecourses has said that tracks have budgeted and borrowed on the basis of the HRI's commitment in the five-year plan and that shortfalls will have to be filled.

The HRI spokesman, Michael O'Rourke, said yesterday: "Increasing the levy was only one target we set ourselves and we have emerged with the best deal possible on the table.

"Our commitment to improving the finances of racecourses remains and we are trying to achieve that. The one per cent aim was only one of the steps in mind and people should keep in mind that we are operating to a five-year plan."

On the eve of the Be My Royal morphine inquiry at the Jockey Club which begins tomorrow, the Turf Club are predicting it will be another six weeks before hearings into the seven remaining cases here can be heard.

Already two horses have been disqualified from first place in Ireland due to feed being contaminated with morphine, including the Willie Mullins-trained One Night Out.