RACING/News round-up: The Fairyhouse authorities have insisted they are confident of providing good ground for Monday's Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National.
Despite temperatures reaching 23 degrees at the track yesterday afternoon, manager Dick Shiel said: "I would describe the ground on the chase track at the moment as good and good to firm in a couple of places.
"We are confident enough of having good ground for the National and it will definitely be safe ground. It's safe now. Our problem will be keeping it like that.
"We hope to use the umbilical system to water the course until Saturday night. After that we will continue to water the front and back of the fences, but it will be difficult to do much else. Our problem might come on the Tuesday and the Power Gold Cup."
That will not be music to the ears of Michael Hourigan, who said yesterday he would be reluctant to risk Beef Or Salmon on fast ground in the Gold Cup.
"It would have to be a concern. I wouldn't imagine we would risk him if it was fast. I don't want to mess him up at this stage of his career," he said.
"I will be there on Sunday and look for myself, but we are prepared and ready for action if the ground is alright."
A number of trainers for the National have already expressed concern at the state of the going.
Willie Mullins is unlikely to run Hedgehunter on fast going, and the same applies to the Nicky Richards-trained Lord Jack.
The well-backed Just In Debt is described as "unlikely" to run due to the rise in the weights, and Tony Martin has expressed concern for Davids Lad's participation if the going gets too quick.
"Any trainer with a soft ground horse probably won't come," Shiel admitted, " but there is only one National and there is a good cover of grass on the course."
The result of the recent warm spell could be the smallest field for the National since Desert Orchid beat 13 opponents in 1990. Before that the smallest field was the eight that lined up for Brown Lad's victory in 1975.
"It's unusual for very good weather to be a problem in this country but it is creating problems for us," Shiel said.
"For instance, we are having to pump water from a nearby river into our reservoir just to maintain our source. Old wells have been reactivated too.
"We have put a couple of hundred thousand gallons onto the track," he added.
In other news yesterday, the appointment of Shane Redmond as the new editor of the Irish form book was confirmed by the Turf Club and Horse Racing Ireland.
Redmond, formerly an employee of Irish Racing Services, will officially take over from Peter O'Hehir on May 6th.
