The importance of all information being made available to the general public regarding mentions of cheekpieces, tongue-ties and breathing ops. Blog now available

I’ve long believed the more information you can supply to the public the more likely they are to have a bet. There can never be too much.

Whilst appreciating a lack of space means you can’t cram everything in American style, there is still room for improvement. For instance, on the cards of trade paper Racing Post there are notices next to the horses’ name for when it wears blinkers or a visor for the first time.

Oddly, though, there is no mention when a horse dons debut cheekpieces. Instead, you have to go trailing through the form whenever you see the paint rollers on. It’s time consuming, unnecessary and easily missed.

Somersby’s concentration was much improved when landing the Grade One Victor Chandler Chase on Saturday in first- time cheekpieces. It was further highlighted by the success today of Cucumber Run (ironically a half-brother to Somersby)at Wetherby.

Though he was not always fluent, Nicky Henderson’s horse jumped much better than when turned over at 1-4 at Plumpton. The addition of first-time cheekpieces proved a major help as they did for Somersby.

The Racing Post is not to blame as the information comes from the racing department at Weatherbys. Other bits of information missing include when a horse has been gelded – it’s not always mentioned in the write-ups – and if a horse is wearing a tongue-tie for the first time. Why?

Also, how often after a horse has won has the trainer mentioned that said animal has had a breathing operation? Rarely, if at all, do you glean this vital news before the race.

It should be made mandatory for all the above issues to be made known and then displayed by Weatherbys, thus enabling the press to relay the information to the public. It can only help.