Sandown option not ruled out for Davids Lad
Davids Lad, a leading fancy for Monday’s Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National, won the Fairyhouse marathon two years ago with 10st but could be saddled with top weight this time.
“I was thinking of maybe running him in the Sandown race, the attheraces Gold Cup,” the trainer said.
“If I could get away with under 11st in the attheraces I could go there.
“It’s looking like he could have top weight at Fairyhouse. There’s only one above him, Rince Ri, and he may not run if the ground is fast.
“I think they’ll do very well to have it better than good. They’ll have to do a real good job with the watering to leave it good.
“Davids Lad is a big, heavy horse and he wouldn’t want it firm. If it was firm he wouldn’t go. He’s got top-heavy limbs and you’d break him down.
“I like nice ground for the horse because he has a wind problem and winter ground, he’s not able for it.”
Recalling his victory of two years ago, Martin said: “He was seven then and he was just a big, raw weak horse. He’s a lot stronger now.
“They’ll raise the weight up to 12st on Monday. He’s big enough to carry it but history is against him.
“He’s in good order, not a bother on him, and he’s happy enough.”
Meanwhile Martin’s Xenophon, who landed a huge gamble in the Coral Cup at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, will have his attentions turned to chasing next season, the trainer confirmed yesterday.
“Touch wood, if all stays well with him he’ll go straight over fences next season,” he said. “He’s already schooled over fences and we are happy with him. So he’ll be all set to go if everything is in order.”
The seven-year-old has raced only six times over hurdles and Martin had been planning to give Xenophon another outing this term but with the weather set fair that idea may now be shelved.
Martin said: “It’s almost certain he’d go to the field. He has an entry in Punchestown and there’s also a three-mile conditions race at Sandown but the way the weather is he wouldn’t race anywhere. Even at Cheltenham it didn’t want to be any quicker than it was. He has to have ease in the ground.”
