RACING: The controversial Davids Lad is being targeted at a race at Cheltenham on Wednesday but could yet be stopped from running there if the Turf Club pursue legal action.

The owners of the former Grand National second favourite went to the High Court on Thursday evening and secured a stay on the 42-day ban which had originally ruled Davids Lad out of Aintree and Cheltenham.

That ban was imposed at Naas 13 days ago and was upheld in a Turf Club Appeals & Referrals Committee hearing during the week. But the stay leaves the horse free to run in any race pending a judicial review of the Appeals & Referrals Committee decision.

In a further twist, however, the Turf Club could go to the High Court themselves next week and as a result stop Davids Lad running in Wednesday's Mildmay Of Flete Chase.

The Turf Club's legal team yesterday received a copy of the 14-page affidavit that was presented to the High Court by the owner's agent Edward Moran on Thursday.

"We are trawling through that and we are unlikely to make a decision until Monday or Tuesday. Whether or not we will go into court I don't know. It depends on our legal advisers," said the Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan.

The Turf Club will have to give the owners of Davids Lad just 12 hours notice if they do decide to go to court.

The horse's trainer, Tony Martin, yesterday confirmed Davids Lad's target is the Mildmay Of Flete and added: "The owners want him to run and Timmy Murphy will ride."

Tomorrow's Naas action will be the last in Ireland for six days and features the Kilcock Novice Chase. Rathgar Beau is bypassing Cheltenham in favour of Liverpool and looks to hold a fine chance of reversing Navan form with Schwartzhalle.

Barry Geraghty's mount is 8lb better off for the half length he was beaten at Navan where he made a second last fence mistake.