British racing seems hell-bent on its own demise - as the past week has shown

Tuesday's latest update on the whip regulations in Britain should probably leave me more animated than it does but at this stage we're becoming immune to the never-ending saga of self-flagellation.

When apathy sets in the game is probably up. Maybe that's too bleak an outlook, but it feels like we are pushing back the tide at this stage in terms of the direction of travel for our sport.

That fatalistic sense isn't helped by people who should know better recklessly brandishing the welfare defence to save face. Nicky Henderson isn't the first stakeholder to deploy that incendiary grenade when it suits him, but it's becoming his go-to device when he needs to bolster his rationale for not running a horse.