Fairyhouse plans hit by drying conditions

Drying ground conditions may yet make a significant impact on Monday's Irish Grand National and the weather could also be a big…

Drying ground conditions may yet make a significant impact on Monday's Irish Grand National and the weather could also be a big player in the opening-day feature of the Easter festival at Fairyhouse, the Powers Gold Cup.

A total of 17 entries have been left in Sunday's two-and-a-half-mile novice highlight after yesterday's forfeit stage, including three Grade One winners. However, plans for two of the star names, Mister Top Notch and Cailin Alainn, may yet have to be reconsidered because of concerns over the going.

Mister Top Notch's trainer Davy Fitzgerald is especially worried at the recent dry spell, which has left the Fairyhouse track just on the yielding side of good with a dry forecast through the weekend.

Fitzgerald has already formulated a contingency plan to switch Mister Top Notch to a Grade One over three miles at Aintree if he feels the conditions at Fairyhouse are unsuitable.

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"It is very frustrating because the Powers is the race we have been aiming at ever since he won the PJ Moriarty in February. I would say he is only 50-50," he said yesterday.

"I know I've been saying all along that he needs good ground but there is a fine line between good and fast and if it keeps drying out, I won't run him. It will probably be safe enough in the end but I'm not prepared to risk him.

"I've already made an entry for him at Aintree over three miles and one which shouldn't be a problem. Conor (O'Dwyer) has always said he will need a trip in time," Fitzgerald added.

His fellow Co Limerick trainer, Charles Byrnes, will also be keeping an eye on the weather for his star mare, Cailin Alainn.

"At the moment she is an intended runner but if it dried up a lot we would have to reconsider. Two-and-a-half miles on quick ground might be too short for her. But good ground would be okay," Byrnes said.

In contrast, Dessie Hughes has no such concerns for his Durkan New Homes and Arkle winner Schindlers Hunt, who is on course to have his first start since falling at the last fence at Naas in late February. A clerical error that kept Schindlers Hunt from being entered for the Arkle at Cheltenham has meant the Powers has been the horse's target for some time.

"This has been the plan and everything is fine at the moment with him. There were no effects from that fall he had the last day and as long as it isn't firm on Sunday we should be fine," Hughes reported yesterday.

Drying conditions are just what Hughes wanted for Oulart, runner-up in last year's Irish National to Point Barrow, and fancied to go one better this time.

"Conditions do seem to be coming right for him but he is a long way down the list of entries and he will need a few to come out. If this weather keeps up, it could help us," said the Curragh trainer, who is unlikely to run anything else in the €250,000 holiday feature he won with Timbera in 2003.

Today's vital forfeit stage will be an important indicator of the final make-up of the National field ahead of the final declarations, which have to be made on Good Friday.

Cane Brake currently tops the weights, with the Nicky Henderson-trained Juveigneur also at the head of the long handicap.

However, one horse who definitely won't be travelling to Fairyhouse is the former ante-post favourite Aces Four, who will instead run in the Mildmay Chase at Liverpool on Friday week.

"I think he is potentially high class and I don't want to give him a gruelling race at the end of the season. It is probably best for the horse if we don't take him," said trainer Ferdy Murphy. "The novice race won't be easy but he won't come under as much pressure."

Yorkshire-based Murphy will instead be represented in the Irish National by Nine De Sivola, who was an unlucky at the third last of the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. "The race at Fairyhouse should suit him. He can just drop in and hunt," he said.