TRAINER Liam Burke is counting down the days as he prepares My Murphy for the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

The 10-year-old landed a big pot in the Thyestes at Gowran Park in January and Burke hopes the decision to keep him under wraps until Easter Monday will reap dividends.

He also took in the Bobbyjo Chase last term, but the Mallow handler feels that may have been too much to ask of his charge.

“He’s A1 and I’d love it to be next Monday to be honest,” said Burke. “We decided to give him less racing this year as last year he went for the Bobbyjo after the Thyestes and Robbie (Power) said he just ran a bit flat there. He had a hard race in Gowran and we thought it would probably scupper a good chance in the National if he ran again this year.

“Hopefully the ground should be as soft as last year. We don’t want it to dry out too much and want it on the yielding side. He just didn’t get home last year, but he was only beaten 18 lengths in the end.”

Progressive mare Bonny Kate remains a possible runner in the Irish National following a fluent success in a Grade 2 mares’ event at Limerick last weekend. However, Noel Meade’s charge is another who appears best suited by soft ground.

A number of those prominent in the ante-post betting on the National were in action at Cheltenham this week. They include Roi Des Francs, Cause Of Causes, Pleasant Company, Noble Endeavour, Morning Assembly, Avant Tout and Measureofmydreams. It seems unlikely any of these will be asked to run again on Easter Monday.

One interesting UK entry is Pendra, trained by Charlie Longsdon for J.P. McManus. A good winner of a handicap at right-handed Ascot last autumn, he has been rested since December, goes well fresh and acts on good ground.

BoyleSports bets: 10 Venetien De Mai, Mala Beach, 12 Bonny Kate, 14 Sub Lieutenant, Upswing, Rule The World, Empire Of Dirt, 16 My Murphy, Vedettariat, Gallant Oscar, 20 bar.