Lad’s connections win a stay on 42-day suspension

DAVIDS LAD, sensationally banned for 42 days by the stewards at Naas last Sunday week, may yet contest the Aintree Grand National on April 5.

The suspension was handed down, after Tony Martin’s gelding never promised to take a hand at the business end of the Naas event, finishing last of the seven runners behind Arctic Copper.

The decision of the Naas stewards was subsequently upheld by the Appeals and Referrals Committeee of the Turf Club and meant Davids Lad could not go to Aintree.