Davids Lad ban is upheld

Davids Lad is set to miss next Saturday’s Martell Cognac Grand National after his owners failed to get his 42-day ban lifted in the Supreme Court in Dublin today.

The four-strong Eddie Joe’s syndicate launched a last-ditch appeal to have the ban imposed by the Irish Turf Club overturned but their attempt was unsuccessful as the judge decided not to lift the ban pending a full hearing.

Denis Egan, chief executive of the Turf Club, said: “We are thrilled. Hopefully we will get the same result at the full hearing.

“It will be going to a full hearing at a date in the future.”

The long-running saga began when Davids Lad was hit with the ban after finishing last in the Paddy & Helen Cox Memorial Newlands Chase at Naas on February 23.

The nine-year-old was suspended from running after the Naas stewards decided that the racecourse had been used as a training ground, ruling him out of Aintree.

Jockey Timmy Murphy was banned for seven days and trainer Tony Martin fined 1,000 euros.

The horse’s owners – brothers Eddie and Jimmy Moran, Nick Butterly and Mattie Lynch – took their case to court after their appeal against the suspension was turned down by the Turf Club’s Appeals & Referrals Committee.

The owners successfully made an ex-parte application to the High Court for a stay on the decision which was then challenged by the Turf Club, resulting in a two-day hearing at Dublin’s High Court at which Justice Mella Carroll upheld the ban.

Davids Lad, who fell at the fourth last fence in last year’s National when holding every chance, had been 14-1 second favourite for the Aintree marathon on April 5.

Ironically, the horse’s ban ends next Sunday, the day after the big race.