Dry weather and firm ground have presented trainer Patrick Payne with an unusual set of difficulties as he prepares reigning Grand Annual Steeplechase champion Awakening Dream for this year's Warrnambool feature.

But Payne is confident he will overcome them by Thursday week when Awakening Dream again attempts Australia's most gruelling horse race.

Awakening Dream finished down the track at Hamilton last week, raising concerns about his prospects at Warrnambool.

He's since been working well enough and Payne is satisfied with the progress the horse has made.

"He's had a similar preparation to last year but because it has been so dry, instead of actual hurdle trialling and schooling he's just been practice jumping on the day at a lesser speed," Payne told racingvictoria.net.au.

"He does a lot of work at home and he's a natural athlete."

Awakening Dream had won the Hamilton race in the lead up to last year's Grand Annual carrying 69kg and Payne believes the 75kg he had this time, combined with the firm track made all the difference.

"It was just way too short for him and the ground was too firm, he's actually a very slow horse and an excellent wet-tracker," he said.

As well as Awakening Dream, Payne will also take last-start Von Doussa Steeplechase (3250m) winner Lord Of The Song to Warrnambool for the Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) along with the lightly-raced five-year-old Limberlost who competes in a maiden hurdle.

Payne also has good prospects at Flemington on Thursday with Rebel Truce who is looking for back-to-back wins in the Auckland Racing Club Handicap (1200m), a race he won first-up last year.

"He's training like he's going to go there and run really well and normally his best runs are fresh, but he needs everything to go his way to be able to win," he said.