IT seems a very long time ago since Nicky Henderson was the master trainer who guided See You Then to three Champion Hurdle wins. He was trained for the most part at home – no need for the public to know anything until he appeared. In the light of recent events, Henderson must think it a much different era too.

It’s vaguely amusing that one of the ‘old school’ trainers, one who could even deserve the ‘legendary’ status so easily attributed these days, has his name dragged into the quagmire of online debates involving bookmakers and stable information, which leaves a bad taste with the betting public and doesn’t reflect well on racing as a whole.

For the second time in the career of one of his top horses, news of Altior’s non-participation in a major race filtered out through a social media account and website managed by a betting company, rather than from the trainer via the racing authorities or the press. And it came after doubts had already been flagged up by market moves for another horse in the yard in the same race. The conflict and unease seems obvious.

That there was very little money in the ante-post markets on either occasion is not the issue. It’s that a bookmaker, who has a vested interest in a race, and who pays the trainer for information regarding his runners, be it influential in the odds market or not, knows that information before the racing authorities or general betting public. And the information is made public by the bookmaker. [Under code name @sevenbarrows!]

Who would be encouraged to bet, thinking a bookmaker has inside info?

Altior had had a troubled season, his unbeaten record gone and now missing intended targets. On Racing TV on Saturday Nico de Boinville appeared confident that Altior was back to good form and would appear in today’s race or next week at Ascot. The news came on Tuesday of his intended absence though the horse was not removed from the race until Thursday.

Unibet’s Brett Williams was quite naive in being “amazed some people still choose to believe there’s skulduggery and public deception among bookmakers/ambassadors.” And this after the exact same issue had been highlighted in 2017 was the surprise.

“Altior will miss the Tingle Creek Chase due to “a wind problem”, trainer Nicky Henderson said in a statement to bookmakers Unibet. The seven-year-old had drifted markedly in the Tingle Creek betting throughout Wednesday afternoon”

No lessons learned there. Perception was not in the minds of those involved.

Most of us who were attracted to racing, though not born into it, knew from an early age that racing and gambling went hand in hand. You grew up loving the spectacle of the Grand National but it was heightened by having a fiver each-way on something that might win money.

But we are a long way on from those more innocent See You Then years and events of the last week show betting in a very negative image. And “perception” is the key we are told. The whip is perceived as cruel, so get rid, they say.

Bookmakers too are regularly perceived in a poor light. Gambling is now instantly accessible. You can watch a match, place a bet, from anywhere, day or night. It’s more of a temptation for problem gamblers. Enticements first, then restrictions if you appear to be a regular winner. Online betting conversations can be a very toxic place with only your own common sense to save you financially or, in some cases, mentally.

This idea that the bookie paid for information and knew something before you, the punter, knew it just does not sit well. If perception is the problem for racing on welfare grounds, it is also a problem if we want to attract new enthusiasts and satisfy our existing fans.

In Altiorgate Part 1, Henderson said that Altior will now require a “small procedure to rectify the problem”. Perhaps the whole ‘ambassador’ issue also requires a small procedure. Racing, nor indeed bookmaking doesn’t not need negative headlines.