Davids Lad ruled out of Aintree

DAVIDS LAD’S owners have accepted defeat in their courtroom action to allow their horse to run in next Saturday’s Martell Cognac Grand National.

The four-strong Eddie Joe's syndicate made a last-ditch bid at the Supreme Court in Dublin yesterday to get the horse's 42-day imposed by the Turf Club lifted. However, the judge decided to allow the suspension to stand pending a full hearing of the case.

The decision means the nine-year-old will not take his place in the line up at Aintree, and now looks likely to tackle either the Irish equivalent or the attheraces Gold Cup at Sandown later in April.