IRISH RACING: Fairyhouse yesterday started watering ahead of their Grand National meeting which starts on Sunday.
The going at the track is currently "good to firm" and manager Dick Shiel said: "We're putting out between five to six millimetres today. We've been watering the front and back of the fences for the last 10 days."
With dry weather forecast for the next week conditions appear to be coming right for the 2001 National winner Davids Lad who is a 6 to 1 favourite with Paddy Power for the Easter Monday highlight.
PADDY POWER IRISH NATIONAL BETTING: 6 Davids Lad, 8 Eskimo Jack and Hedgehunter, 10 Rathbawn Prince, Ross Moff and Winning Dream, 12 Just In Debt, Takagi and Timbera, 14 Barrow Drive, Native Jack, Native Sessions, Rince Ri, The Premier Cat and Wotsitooya, 16 bar.
Today's action is an all-flat fixture at Tipperary which has been transferred from the temporarily closed Limerick.
Aidan O'Brien runs the 100-rated Gianfanti in the Junction Race but the drop back to seven furlongs should suit Faadhil who is rated stakes class by Dermot Weld.
The EBF fillies race sees five three-year-old's take on their elders and the youngsters can come out on top courtesy of the Leopardstown third Ebatana.
Yesterday John Oxx reported: "The distance will suit Ebatana a lot better and she should have come on for the run."
Oxx also reports that the Rainbow Quest filly Prayer, sixth of 24 to Alberto Giacometti on her only start last year, will come on for her run in the three-year-old maiden but she still looks to hold a good chance.
Devil Moon should get off the mark in the opener while Brief Affair can follow up a win at Navan in October in the sprint handicap.
Hussard Collonges heads four British entries for the Grade One Punchestown Heineken Gold Cup on April 30th. The Peter Beaumont-trained eight-year-old, who was pulled up behind Best Mate in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup last time, has been put in the feature race of the Festival which is worth €160,000 this year.
Also entered from Britain are Charlie Egerton's Killusty, Paul Nicholls' veteran performer See More Business and the Henry Daly-trained Young Spartacus.
