COLLIER BAY'S owner, Wally Sturt, yesterday admitted he is prepared to by pass the Champion Hurdle if the ground does not prove suitable at Cheltenham.

With the horse still to make his seasonal debut because the going remains too firm, Sturt indicated that rather than take any risks Collier Bay's title defence could be postponed until March 1998 if necessary.

A specially arranged contest at Towcester next Friday being considered by the BHB now appears to represent trainer Jim Old's last chance of racing Collier Bay before the Festival after this weekend's Agfa Hurdle was ruled out.

The BHB, who have also had offers from Ayr and Bangor to stage the event, will make a decision on Monday.

Sturt, at "good to soft" Towcester yesterday to see his other Champion entry Juyush win, said: If the race goes ahead here next Friday then we will come back we'll stand for this sort of ground.

"There's nothing else for him. The Wincanton and Haydock trials are too close to Cheltenham. He needs his races spaced out and if the Towcester race doesn't get the go ahead he wilt go straight there, assuming the ground is okay.

"Jim's on record as saying that if the ground at Cheltenham is good we'll run, but if it's not we won't run.

"Jim loves horses more than he does people and if the ground was fast, we'd wait until next year. He's seven and only a baby, it's not like it was with Mole Board."

Collier Bay, favourite for the Champion Hurdle, went to Lingfield last week for a racecourse workout under Graham Bradley with galloping companion Simpson, successful at Folkestone yesterday.

But, unless the jockey appeals against the two day suspension he collected at Leicester on Wednesday, Jamie Osborne will reclaim the ride at Towcester.

Sturt added: "If Brad is stood down, I'd like to think Jamie will ride Collier Bay.

"Jim was ever so pleased after Lingfield and said the horse came to life. He gets bored at home and liked having a stretch at Lingfield."

The ground at Cheltenham has been on the firm side of good all season but watering has taken place before previous Festivals.

Assistant clerk of the course Peter McNeile said: "Watering at this time of year would be approached with a good deal of caution and we would want a long range forecast before we considered it.

"The ground now is not markedly different to what it was in late November but, with many opportunities lost and the Festival looming, more people were prepared to run on it last Saturday.

"Perhaps Jim Old will come round to that, but having waited so long to run Collier Bay, maybe he won't.

. Norman Williamson will take over on Strong Promise in next Wednesday's Comet Chase but a new jockey for Sound Man is unlikely to be known until after the weekend.

Williamson has agreed to replace the injured Tony McCoy, who had been lined up as the long term substitute for Kieran Gaute.

The booking was secured yesterday white, Sound Man's trainer Edward O Grady bided his time over finding a rider to fill the seat vacated by Richard Dunwoody in favour of One Man.