Irish National News

Jim Dreaper will keep a keen eye on the weather before deciding whether to let Notre Pere take his chance under top-weight in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday.

The eight-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic season so far, winning the Welsh National at Chepstow before chasing home Neptune Collonges in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

He was forced to miss an intended run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup after a minor setback but Dreaper reports his stable star to be back firing on all cylinders.

"We had no option but to declare him as we are three days away from the race. The lads will have a ride around on Sunday and they will be able to tell me what it's like," said Dreaper.

"If we had a damp night without being a wet night, while it wouldn't be ideal, I would say it will be perfectly safe and that's all we need.

"The rain seems to be skirting around us a little bit as both we and Fairyhouse seem to be missing the rain other parts of Ireland have got over the last few days.

"We're in the race anyway and obviously he is being prepared as if he is going to run. He appears to be fully recovered from the minor setback he suffered last month."

The going is currently good to yielding following 1.8 millimetres of rain on Thursday night with showers forecast before Monday.

Fairyhouse general manager Caroline Gray said: "We had 1.8mm of rain last night the forecast is for up to 10mm of rain today and showers tomorrow."

Should Notre Pere not line up, the weights will rise 7lb and leave ante-post favourite Wichita Lineman with top-weight of 11st 7lb.

That would leave Tony McCoy's mount - clear 9-1 favourite with William Hill - with a much more difficult task than he faces at present, with Desert Orchid (1990) and Flashing Steel (1995) the last two top-weights to win the race.

Tom Mullins' Chelsea Harbour, an early casualty at Aintree last week, is another among a maximum field of 30, as is first-fence faller Himalayan Trail.

Mullins' brother Willie has declared three, Arbour Supreme, Emma Jane and Pomme Tiepy, the mount of Ruby Walsh.

Davy Fitzgerald is doubly represented with Operation Houdini and Skip Two, Dessie Hughes has Vic Venturi, Rare Bob, Justpourit and Oulart while Tony Martin has Royal County Star, Drumconvis and Newbay Prop.

As well as Wichita Lineman, Bob Buckler's Niche Market and Ferdy Murphy's Poker De Sivola make the trip over from England, with Keith Mercer booked for the latter.

Murphy said: "He ran a good race at Cheltenham really, he just got trapped out wide all the way.

"Nina (Carberry) said she still thought she was going to win two out and for a novice in a handicap he ran really well.

"We could do with Notre Pere staying in to keep the weights down and Keith Mercer will ride him.

"David Johnson (owner) had no problems with that, he's our number two jockey to Graham Lee (who is suspended) and his jockey Timmy Murphy can't do 9st 10lb.

"It's a race that has been kind to us down the years and hopefully he'll run a big race."

Noel Meade's Casey Jones, Edward O'Grady's Forest Leaves and Enda Bolger's Festival winner Garde Champetre are other notable contenders.

Bolger has farmed out the cross-country races at Cheltenham but has never won an Irish National.

Garde Champetre has been revitalised since joining Bolger, who has no worries about sending him back over regulation fences.

"Everything is hunky dory after Cheltenham and he is in tip-top order. Nina (Carberry) came down to ride him the other day," said Bolger.

"He does jump well and while he seems far more at home in cross-country races, it's not an issue as when he was with Jonjo (O'Neill) he jumped park fences at places like Newbury and Newcastle.

"It is such a good prize and the race has come at the right time after Cheltenham, and JP (McManus, owner) was keen to have a go.

"He doesn't mind any ground and handles anything.My only concern is that Notre Pere runs, so my fellow has a nice racing weight of 10st 6lb.

"If Notre Pere doesn't run then Garde Champetre will have something like 11st and while he has enough class for the race, I'd be more worried about the weight."

William Hill's Irish spokesman Tony Kenny said: "Wichita Lineman's last-stride victory in the William Hill Trophy was one of the highlights of the Cheltenham Festival and the form of that race entitles him to be favourite.

"Ruby's (Walsh) decision to ride Pomme Tiepy means she'll probably be challenging Wichita Lineman for favouritism on Easter Monday. She's been backed down from 33-1 to 10-1 in recent weeks, but we expect her start a single-figure price."

Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National, William Hill bet: 9-1 Wichita Lineman, 10-1 Emma Jane, Royal County Star, Pomme Tiepy, 11-1 Arbor Supreme, Notre Pere, 12-1 Casey Jones, Drumconvis, 14-1 Garde Champetre, Rare Bob, 20-1 Himalayan Trail, One Cool Cookie, Poker De Sivola, 25-1 Bella Mana Mou, Chelsea Harbour, Newbay Prop, Skip Two, Vic Venturi, 33-1 bar.