Of all the running sores afflicting British racing, the Tote has recently been the most embarrassing. Already a shadow of the force a monopoly pool betting organisation should be, its credibility was further humbled by the maladroit meddling of the government in its sale. Still on the market, still imperilled, still punching way below its weight, the Tote needed the publicity of a record Scoop6 pot like an ailing patient needs oxygen.

Indeed, given the attention the potential payout attracted from the front end of newspapers and the curiosity end of TV news bulletins, it was also a considerable windfall for racing - possibly overdue, after almost a decade of this big Saturday bet, but nonetheless welcome.

Certain aspects, though, were imperfect. Just when another Agnes Haddock was needed, the eight winning tickets produced no such romance. Two were held by Harry Findlay, the ebullient epitome of a professional gambler, one by a syndicate of formbook journalists.

The only winner from the £2 lottery-style mentality necessary for appealing follow-ups is held by a man who demands anonymity.

Then there was the make-up of the six races. With the jumps season buzzing, the Tote selected four all-weather races at Lingfield and possibly the worst jumps race of the afternoon at Huntingdon. As Tote sources insist they were under no pressure from Channel 4 - who had none of the best jumps contests to screen - we must assume that it was simply a device to make the bet as difficult as possible.

Commercially, that may have been vindicated. But to showcase the sport still more effectively, one must hope the Tote does not even think beyond the Hennessy for the £1.5 million bonus race this Saturday.