Nicky row won't hurt racing, says Dickinson

Michael Dickinson does not believe that the Nicky Henderson 'drugs' controversy will damage racing's reputation.

The leading jumps trainer faces a ban after one of his horses, Moonlit Path, owned by the Queen, tested positive for an anti-bleeding drug after racing at Huntingdon in February.

But Dickinson, who famously trained the first five home in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1983 before emigrating to Maryland in America, says the affair will quickly be forgotten.

He said: "Everyone knows that Nicky is one of the straightest, most honest people around. I've known him for a very long time and he wouldn't dream of cheating. It is not in his nature.

"His vet administered a drug - tranexamic acid - that had the horse's welfare in mind. There was certainly no intention to enhance performance. It is a drug that helps the blood to clot, preventing bleeding.

"The rules have been transgressed but banning him would be very harsh in my view."

Dickinson, whose synthetic racing surface company Tapeta Footings is the front-runner to land the contract to install an all-weather track at Dubai's new racecourse in Meydan, where the Dubai World Cup will take place next March, added: "I'm not the slightest bit concerned this will affect the credibility of racing.