Irish Grand National:The Fairyhouse authorities are set to start watering the track tomorrow ahead of Monday's Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National and that looks like being a crucial step in allowing the topweight Cane Brake take his chance in the big Easter feature.
The Tom Taaffe-trained star, already a winner this season of the Troytown and the Paddy Power Chase, as well as fifth in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup, is one of 62 horses remaining in Ireland's most valuable steeplechase after yesterday's forfeit stage.
The connections of plenty of those entries will be anxiously looking at Taaffe's running plans to try to decide if they can get into the race, and with what weight, and the indications yesterday were that the Straffan-based trainer will allow Cane Brake run.
"I was delighted with the way he worked this morning and at the moment, provided they do sufficient watering, I would think we will stand our ground," Taaffe said.
"I walked the track on Monday and if it was like that again, there wouldn't be a problem. We would definitely run. But we are getting a dry spell so I would need to get my idea of good ground in order to run."
Taaffe has already tasted Irish National success as a jockey when Brittany Boy won at Fairyhouse 20 years ago, and his father, Pat Taaffe, won a record six Nationals including on board Arkle, who successfully carried topweight, in 1964.
"It's a big ask carrying topweight but Cane Brake had 11.10 in the Paddy Power, where I used Adrian Joyce's 7lb claim, and he came through. If he runs, Adrian will claim again," Taaffe said.
"David Casey rode him at Cheltenham and I picked his brains this morning about the ground. He said it was no problem to the horse in the Gold Cup. There is a good bit of moisture just underneath at Fairyhouse so if they make it safe ground we should be fine," he added.
The going at Fairyhouse yesterday was officially "good to yielding" and the track spokesman, Niall Mackey, was predicting the taps will be turned on tomorrow.
"All the watering equipment is out and ready if we need to water. At this stage I would say it is likely we will have to put some on during Friday and Saturday morning but I wouldn't say it will need much. There is plenty of juice underneath the first two inches so we will need to only loosen things up a little. The next couple of days will be cloudy which will help," he said.
A total of 14 British-trained horses remain in the €250,000 race headed by the Nicky Henderson-trained Juveigneur, the second topweight, who is rated 7lb behind Cane Brake.
The James Fanshawe-trained Reveillez, another former Cheltenham festival winner, is another at the forefront of the weights alongside Paul Nolan's Kill Devil Hill.
An intriguing contender could be the top hunter-chaser Whyso Mayo, so unlucky at Cheltenham, who is being lined up for a crack at the National provided the ground doesn't get too quick.
"If it gets very quick, we won't run, so it has to be a concern. But if it is safe, maybe something around good to yielding, we will definitely run. I know it will be a big change for him. He won't have as much room against handicappers but at 10 years old, I believe he is worth a shot at the National," said his trainer Ray Hurley yesterday.
"Everything that could go wrong at Cheltenham did go wrong but he still battled back from all that and he deserves to take his chance in a race like this. Damien (Murphy) will ride him again. He has done nothing wrong and he can take 5lb off," he added.
Whyso Mayo is a 14 to 1 shot with Paddy Power to successfully graduate from the hunter division. Yesterday's market mover, however, was another British hope Cloudy Lane, who provided his trainer, Donald McCain, with a first Cheltenham festival success in the Kim Muir. He is now a 12 to 1 shot from 20s.
Tuesday's Fairyhouse feature, the Menolly Homes Handicap Hurdle, will include Accordion Etoile who is returning to action ahead of his main target, the Kerrygold Champion Chase at Punchestown.
"Hopefully, Fairyhouse should put him spot on for Punchestown," said trainer Paul Nolan who could be in winning form at Clonmel this evening courtesy of Rock Angel in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle.
Lost Time, runner-up to Dante's Reef over the course and distance of today's conditions chase on his last start, looks good to go one better while Belord can get past the challenge of Lisselan Eagle in the first.
