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 Chase 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."

Burke is happy with the 10st 10lb that My Murphy has been allotted but is resigned to the fact that the weights might increase with top weight Valseur Lido set to line up at Cheltenham this week.

Burke added: "It would be grand if it stayed like that, but it looks like it might go up with Valseur Lido going to Cheltenham and we could do without that."