RACING:WATERING has begun at Fairyhouse ahead of the Easter Grand National weekend with Beautiful Sound still topping ante-post betting for the €250,000 feature this Monday, writes Brian O'Connor.

The Michael O’Leary-owned horse is a 7 to 1 favourite with the big race sponsors for the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National which could be run without the soft-ground loving Welsh National hero, Synchronised. Jonjo O’Neill’s horse may find ground conditions unsuitable with the going officially “good” yesterday and a dry week forecast. Watering began yesterday with track manager Peter Roe reporting: “We will water as much as we have to so we can ensure safe jumping ground.”

One absentee from the big race will be Becauseicouldntsee who fell at the second fence in the Aintree National and will now be left off for the season. Trainer Noel Glynn said: “We’ll put him out now and bring him back for the Paddy Power at Leopardstown next Christmas and then go back to Aintree.”

Aidan O’Brien has left the regally bred Viscount Nelson among the entries for Saturday’s Group Three Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown. The son of Giants Causeway and Imagine ran third to Twice Over in last season’s Eclipse at Sandown.