LAST Saturday’s edition of the Morning Line, saw Mark Johnston line up against pundit Graham Cunningham to defend his comments that too much betting coverage in TV racing programmes was not what the public wanted to see.

While some of Johnston’s comments have been too dismissive of a huge element of racing’s funding base, and racecourse concerts do bring crowds to the tracks, he comes from a different perspective which should not be ignored. Many trainers don’t bet and have no interest in morning prices or what is being backed. Johnston shouldn’t be castigated for being one of them.