Trainer Tony Martin will be hoping for a dry spell as his charge Davids Lad bids to tackle a challenging spring objective with races at the Cheltenham & Aintree Festivals.
The 11-year-old, winner of the Irish Grand National in 2001, needs good ground to show his best form.
The County Meath handler is hoping conditions will be suitable as he is aiming Davids Lad at the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival followed by another crack at the John Smith's Grand National.
Davids Lad has already had two bites at the Aintree spectacular, going well when falling four out in 2002 and coming last of the 11 finishers behind Amberleigh House last April.
He was controversially ruled out of both festivals in 2003 when he was banned for 42 days for using Naas racecourse as a training ground.
Preparations for his spring objectives continued when the Yashgan gelding was eighth of 11 in a two-and-a-quarter-mile handicap chase at Thurles last week.
"Davids Lad needs good ground but he takes his races well. It's three and a half weeks from Cheltenham to Liverpool, so hopefully he'll go for the Kim Muir," Martin told At The Races.
"Hopefully it will be Cheltenham and then the National. He needs good ground because of a wind problem. He was operated on and it takes him two or three races to get him right so we should have him in really good nick for Cheltenham and Liverpool."
