WEATHER woes have put racecourses under pressure throughout the country in recent weeks, but Fairyhouse manager Peter Roe has assured it is a case of all systems go for the Fairyhouse Easter Festival after a timely upturn in the weather.

Conditions were described as heavy at the Co Meath track on Friday morning, following 0.3mm of rain in the previous 24 hours, and a combination of sunshine and showers are forecast through to the BoyleSports Irish Grand National on Easter Monday.

Up to 10mm of rain is on the cards, while fresh ground will be in use on both tracks for each of the three days.

“Our team has been working hard in the lead up to this weekend,” Roe told The Irish Field.

“Thankfully, it looks like the weather is going to give us a nice bounce. It had looked dodgy earlier in the week but now it’s just a very isolated shower on the forecast. The track has held up remarkably well. There’s plenty of fresh ground and while we’re calling the ground heavy, it’s not winter heavy. It’s nice jumping ground.”

A massive field of 18 runners have been declared for Sunday’s Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares’ Novice Hurdle - what is believed to be the biggest field for a National Hunt Grade 1 race in Ireland this century.

Jade De Grugy is one of 10 Willie Mullins-trained runners in the line-up, while there is also British interest through the Fergal O’Brien-trained Springtime Promise.

Roe said: “We’re delighted with the turnout. It’s disappointing that we don’t have Brighterdaysahead but other than that all the ones you’d want are there.”

On the Irish Grand National, which will have a final declared field come 10am today, Roe added: “I think there’s a great spread of owners and trainers in the mix for Monday. From a Fairyhouse point of view, you’ve got Nick Rockett as a big player who won his beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse earlier this season. He was also placed behind Corbetts Cross here at the Winter Festival.

Local interest

“Intense Raffles has won both of his Irish starts here, putting up some great performances, and how could we not mention Where’s Frankie? Wouldn’t that be some story if he could win it? Stranger things have happened too.

“He’s a real Fairyhouse horse, having made nine consecutive starts here for Karl Thornton and the Derby Bar Syndicate. All winter we’ve wondered if any horse has made that many starts in a row at the one track, particularly over jumps? If he wins on Monday, I’m not sure we’ll be able to get the crowd out of the bar celebrating!”

Cork is also gearing up for its Easter Festival, which - like Fairyhouse - kicks off this afternoon. The star attraction on today’s flat card is Paddy Twomey’s spectacular Goffs Million heroine One Look in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race (1.45).

Cork manager Eoghan O’Grady said: “We’re in a good position ahead of the weekend. We were worried at the start of the week that there was a big volume of rain on the way but the last few days have been kind enough to us.

“We’re looking forward to some good racing and the straight track is in good order, there was good drying on Thursday. The ground will be heavy but we have no concerns.

“We’re expecting big crowds. Tickets are selling well and hospitality is sold out for Sunday and Monday, so we’re hopeful of a good buzz around the place.”