Trainer Peter Beaumont put in a order for rain as his Martell Grand National contenders Young Kenny and Niki Dee were put through their paces at Aintree today.
A dry spell has left Beaumont concerned that ground conditions will be unsuitable for top-weight Young Kenny on April 8th.
Young Kenny had to be pulled out of his intended prep race, the Midlands National, last Saturday owing to firm ground at Uttoxeter.
The ground was on the fast side as Young Kenny covered one and a half miles of Aintree's Mildmay Course in the company of Niki Dee.
At present, however, conditions on the National course are reported to be good with some good to soft patches.
'It's definitely on the quick side out there but the race is still two and a half weeks away _ and it's going to rain,' said Beaumont.
'Just to make sure I'll get everybody to do a rain dance.
'Certainly if it did stay dry I'd have to think again about Young Kenny running.
'It's not so bad with Niki Dee, he is effective on good ground.'
Clerk of the course Ian Renton said: 'The ground is on the firm side on the Mildmay and hurdles courses but it's on the soft side on the National course.
'There is rain forecast for this weekend, with possibly heavy rain on Friday.
'The aim is to provide good ground and if nature is good to us we should be all right.
'It's very unlikely that we would water the National course though there is a chance we would consider putting water on the Mildmay and hurdles courses from next week.'
Beaumont was happy to send his two horses to Aintree from their stables in North Yorkshire.
'It's a long way for them to come but I'm sure they have enjoyed their break,' he said.
Young Kenny and Niki Dee were among 64 horses standing their ground at the second forfeit stage.
With 41 of the remaining entries in the handicap proper _ compared with 19 last year _ the #500,000 race will be especially tough this time round.
But Beaumont said: 'I'm happy with both horses and I wouldn't swap them for any others.
'It was a shame that Young Kenny was not able to run at Uttoxeter last Saturday but the ground was too fast.
'I am a bit worried about the weight he has in the National but he is a strong horse and has carried it before.
'Niki Dee did not have things his way at Cheltenham last week _ he has run some good races this season and is in good order.
Robbie Supple, who partnered his big race mount Niki Dee in the work-out, said: 'The ground was better here than it was at Cheltenham last week but it would help Niki Dee and Young Kenny if they could get their toes in.'
Supple's previous best in the National came when he finished fourth aboard Over The Road in 1991.
'Niki Dee is a cocky, confident sort of horse _ his form is quite solid and he can handle big fences, so I'm hoping for a good run,' he said.
The 1997 winner Lord Gyllene is not sound and was pulled out at today's forfeit stage but there are no plans to retire him just yet.
The 21 horses taken out were: Simply Dashing, Tresor de Mai, Gloria Victis, The Outback Way, The Grey Monk, Fiddling The Facts, Strong Tel, Pain Royal, Lord Gyllene, In The Blood, Northern Starlight, Step On Eyre, Dontleavethenest, Lancastrian Jet, Lord Of The West, Empereur River, Feathered Leader, Fiddlers Tune, Inchcailloch, River Dawn, Polikiss.
Officials at Aintree are anticipating new attendance records for next month's meeting.
Advance sales are up 17 per cent against last year and sales revenue has topped #2 million.
'The level of interest is higher than we have ever known,' said managing director Charles Barnett.
'We are confident that attendance records on Thursday and Friday that achieved record highs in 1999 of 18,000 and 30,000 will once again be broken.'
Hospitality marquees are already in place for the big meeting but the famous fences are still in the process of being constructed.
'The wooden core of the fences is in place but the spruce which is brought in from the Lake District is put in as late as possible so that it's fresh for the big day,' said Renton.
The course builders have detailed plans to ensure that fences such as Becher's Brook and The Chair are completed to the correct specifications.
Martell Grand National betting:
Ladbrokes: 8-1 Star Traveller, 10-1 Bobbyjo, 16-1 Betty's Boy, Young Kenny, Micko's Dream, 20-1 Djeddah, Red Marauder, The Last Fling, 25-1 Cavalero, 33-1 Bar. William Hill: 10-1 Star Traveller, 12-1 Bobbyjo, 14-1 Young Kenny, 16-1 Betty's Boy, Micko's Dream, 20-1 Edmond, The Last Fling, 25-1 Bar. Corals: 8-1 Star Traveller, 11-1 Bobbyjo, 14-1 Micko's Dream, The Last Fling, Young Kenny, 16-1 Bettys Boy, Edmond, 25-1 Cavalero, Dark Stranger, Djeddah, Call It A Day, Niki Dee, Red Marauder, Kendal Cavalier, 28-1 Earthmover, 33-1 Bar. Tote: 9-1 Star Traveller, 10-1 Bobbyjo, 12-1 Young Kenny, 14-1 Betty's Boy, Micko's Dream, 20-1 Cavalero, Djeddah, Edmond, Red Marauder, The Last Fling, 25-1 Escartefigue, Kendal Cavalier, Listen Timmy, Papillon, 28-1 Bar.
