Lad's appeal turned down

Davids Lad is out of the Martell Cognac Grand National after an appeal by connections to Irish Turf Club failed following a near-five hour hearing this afternoon.

The Turf Club’s Appeals & Referrals Committee upheld the 42-day ban given to the nine-year-old by the Naas stewards on February 23.

And they also allowed to stand trainer Tony Martin’s €1000 fine and the seven-day ban given to Timmy Murphy (March 5, 6, 8, 9, 15, 16 and 17).

The Naas stewards found that the racecourse had been used as a training ground and that the rider had made insufficient effort in the Paddy & Helen Cox Memorial Newlands Chase.

Davids Lad was last of the seven finishers behind Arctic Copper in the two-mile contest when a 14-1 chance.

The extent of the ban seemed cruel for the gelding’s owners as under the original ban Davids Lad would have been able to run on April 7 – just two days after the Aintree showpiece.

The horse’s four-strong syndicate – Nicky Butterly, who lives in Spain, Trim publican Matty Lynch (Martin’s brother-in-law), Templemore pub owner Eddie Moran and his brother Jimmy who owns a garage in Mullingar – were represented by solicitor Brian Rennick

Naas solicitor Andrew Coonan spoke for Martin and Murphy at the hearing held at the Curragh racecourse.

Davids Lad had been 14-1 second favourite for the National, before bookmakers took him out of the betting following the decision by the Naas stewards.

He was going well in last year’s race until falling at the fourth last fence.

The nine-year-old’s campaign had been geared towards Aintree and Martin had hoped to give the nine-year-old a prep race at Cheltenham next week.