Trainer will bounce back from ban, says Fitzgerald

MICK FITZGERALD, who rode as stable jockey to Nicky Henderson for many years, said the trainer would bounce back after his three-month ban over the use of  a banned anti-bleeding drug.

"I'm sure he'll be amazed and as disappointed as everyone is about the decision," said Fitzgerald.

"I'm just really pleased that he doesn't have to lose any staff and lay anybody off overthis, and that is the thing Nicky will be most pleased about.

"Of course Nicky can bounce back from this because he is a strong person.

"But, at the same time, he'll be disappointed they've found as they have because he didn't give it to the horse to affect its performance.

"If that was the case, he wouldn't be running it in a race where he already had the favourite (the winner, Ravello Bay).

"He's an honourable man and he'll get on with the job of training winners.

"Nicky has trained for some of these owners for a considerable amount of time and I'm sure something like this will not stop people having horses in training with Nicky Henderson.

"The number-one thing here is that Nicky will be relieved that none of his staff will lose their jobs, and that is the big thing.

"Nicky's a very emotional man and that would have hurt him."

Eight-time champion jockey Peter Scudamore  feels Henderson's three-month ban has come at a favourable time in the jump racing calendar.

"If they had banned him for a year, that may have affected his long-term career," said Scudamore.

"As it is, he has received a stiff fine of £40,000 - but he'll be able to pay that.

"He has been banned for three months when there is little jump racing so he will be able to continue his career."

Racing pundit John McCririck disagreed with the decision to prevent Henderson from making entries for three months.

He said: "This is a very serious offence, but what the BHA have done to Nicky Henderson is absolutely outrageous.

"This is a man of proven integrity but he has been condemned in a secret court in a tribunal, of which we have not seen the evidence."

Don't miss Saturday's Racing Post for the full reaction to Nicky Henderson's punishment and the Moonlit Path case - click here to buy the newspaper as a PDF from 9am