Billy Nash / 10 April 2009 Free Bet

The timing of Easter has a great bearing on the competitiveness of the Fairyhouse festival. Last year, with an early holiday and just 8 days between the end of Cheltenham and the first day at Fairyhouse, many races at the latter attracted small fields. This year, with fully 30 days between the two, Fairyhouse promises to be back to something approaching its former glory.

Centrepiece is, of course, the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National, due to be run at 3:55 on Monday, a race in which there has already been plenty of activity in the ante-post market.

Vying for favouritism are the Willie Mullins-trained pair Emma Jane and Arbor Supreme, though neither has exactly been hiding its light under a bushel. Emma Jane was a short-head winner of the Leinster National at Naas last time and Arbor Supreme was third (one place ahead of his stable-companion) in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran before disappointing at Down Royal.

Also close up in the betting are Mullins' Pomme Tiepy, the topweight Notre Pere and last-time Grade 3 Navan winner Royal County Star. The last two finished third and second respectively behind shock winner Hear The Echo 12 months ago, and Notre Pere in particular has gone the right way since, winning the Welsh National at Chepstow and finishing second in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown. It would, however, take a prodigious effort for the 8-year-old to defy 11-12 in a race as competitive as this.

Wichita Lineman is proving popular following his come-from-behind victory at the Cheltenham Festival under an inspired Tony McCoy but looks pretty high in the weights now for a novice and is inclined to make the odd mistake. He may be worth considering for place-laying purposes if he shortens further.

Arguably a more appealing flag-bearer for novice form is Rare Bob, who gets in off just 10-5. The Dessie Hughes-trained 7-year-old has won twice from six starts in his first season over larger obstacles and finished not far behind the likes of Cooldine, Forpadydeplasterer and Trafford Lad in Grade 1s on this track and at Leopardstown. One wonders what sort of price Cooldine would be carrying little more than 11-0 in this.

Another worthy of respect is Garde Champetre, who gets to run off a lower mark than when winning cross-country chases at Cheltenham on his last two starts. It is quite some time since the Enda Bolger-trained gelding ran over more conventional fences, but it is worth noting that he has won in that sphere and was good enough as a hurdler to land a Grade 2 as a novice. The handicapper looks to have taken a chance.

The festival gets under way on Sunday, a day featuring the 2m Grade 2 Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle (in which the first four on Timeform ratings, Mourad, Cousin Vinny, Sports Line and Kempes, are all trained by Willie Mullins) and the 2½m Grade 1 Powers Gold Cup, in which Trafford Lad may cross swords with the most progressive Joncol.

The Irish National itself is supported on Monday by a 2½m Grade 3 hurdle which has the likes of Sizing Europe and Powerstation among the entries. The highlights of Tuesday's card are the Grade 2 Easter Festival Novice Hurdle over 2½m and the Grade 3 Weatherbys Ireland GSB Hurdle over 2m.