HENDO HAS THE REAL IDEAL NOW

SPARSE fields again today, so time for a rant on a favourite subject.

- RORY DELARGY

There was no official reason given for the poor run of Ideal Des Bordes at Kempton last time, with the stewards happy to note that "Nicky Henderson reported the gelding stopped quickly on this occasion".

It was a similar story when the horse pulled up when also favourite at Exeter last season, except it was James Bowen who reported the horse had stopped quickly, a fact that both the stewards and those watching the race already knew.

If the stewards are going to inquire into why favourites have performed badly they can't consider the job done if told a horse stopped quickly.