Despite months of testing ground conditions throughout the country, the dry spell of the last few days has resulted in the Fairyhouse authorities taking the precautionary step of increasing their water reserves in case they have to water the track ahead of this weekend's Easter festival.

The going is currently "yielding" at the Ratoath course ahead of their biggest meeting of the year which begins on Sunday, and which features Easter Monday's €250,000 Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National.

However, with little or no rain forecast between now and then, no chances are being taken on the possibility of the ground turning up fast, a development which would have seemed unthinkable even last week.

"It's remarkable how things change round. Last week, we were heavy, and very heavy at that. Now we're yielding and just in case it does get hot and the place continues to dry out, we have taken the precaution of topping up the reservoir here and getting it ready, just in case we have to water. If it looks like getting fast, then we will start watering," said the Fairyhouse spokesman Niall Mackey yesterday.

Quick ground conditions will not be good news for several of the fancied big-race runners including the Grand National topweight Cane Brake, who ran fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month. Trainer Tom Taaffe has already stated his horse would like some cut in the Fairyhouse going.

Mackey added yesterday: "Although the sun is shining here, it is quite cold so there isn't a huge amount of drying at the moment. If that continues, I would say we are looking at good ground for the festival, maybe good to yielding. I've looked over some of the records and that's what we usually get anyway."

That will be good news for the top English trainer, Nicky Henderson, who has confirmed the former Cheltenham festival winner Juveigneur an intended traveller to Fairyhouse for the Grand National. Yesterday the horse was backed in to 9 to 1 favouritism with Boylesports from 12 to 1.

However, it is less welcome news for Willie Mullins who now looks like having just the one runner - Homer Wells. Mullins said: "I think Homer Wells will be my only one. Snowy Morning won't run and Livingstonebramble goes for the English National. Ballytrim might run but he's number 78 on the list and I know that at the top of the weights, Juveigneur is running and Cane Brake could - I suppose the weather will decide for him.

"But Homer Wells runs, all being well. He is essentially a soft-ground horse, so I would like to see some rain before the weekend."

Another English-trained runner likely to take in the National is Nine De Sivola, a third-last fence faller in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, who will attempt to give Ferdy Murphy a second Irish National success after Granit D'Estruval in 2004.

Another possible Murphy runner is the SunAlliance fourth Aces Four who has an alternative engagement in Liverpool's John Smith's Mildmay Chase on Friday week. "I will work him in the morning and discuss it with Graham (Lee.) He is well handicapped at 138 at Fairyhouse but I think at this stage, he is better off in novice company and he is potentially top class," Murphy said. "He may be confirmed for the Irish National and then we will sit down and see."

Ground conditions, however, could also play a part in whether or not Murphy sends the Arkle fifth Another Promise to Fairyhouse for Sunday's highlight, the Grade One Powers Gold Cup.

"If it is suitable, he will go. If it's fast, he won't," he said. "Good ground would be all right so we will put him in and see what the opposition is like."