MPs have demanded to know why official permission has been refused to bury triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate at Exeter racecourse.

The champion collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack after being pulled up on his reappearance in the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup at the Devon track on Tuesday this week.

Owner Jim Lewis, of Callow End, near Worcester, revealed that he would have been buried at Exeter, but permission was refused.

Various agencies, including the Environment Agency, Department for Environ-ment Food and Rural Affairs and Trading Standards, said burial at the racecourse would not be permitted.

Mr Lewis said: "We wanted to have him buried at the racecourse but there is some European legislation which forbids this to happen." Best Mate was cremated instead.

During exchanges on future Commons business yesterday, Liberal Democrat Richard Younger Ross (Teignbridge) requested: "Could you ensure that there is a statement from the Secretary of State at Defra as to why, against the wishes of the racecourse owners and of the racehorse, that horse was not allowed to be buried at the racecourse?"

Commons Leader Geoff Hoon replied: "I am sure that my very distinguished predecessor Robin Cook would have had an answer to your question."

Mr Cook, who died in the summer, was a keen racing pundit, who penned a tipsters' column.