IT’S tempting to devote this column in its entirety to the issue du jour, the decision of the BHA to make declaration of wind-operations compulsory in racecards from January, and there is plenty to chew over, with the decision welcomed by and large by punters but meeting with a lukewarm response at best by the National Trainers Federation and Racehorse Owners Association.

I’m wary that turning this into a punters v owners issue is misleading, however, and while there are some points to make regarding the various attitudes shown, it makes more sense to view this as an opportunity for education rather than another skirmish in what is a phony war.