AS the spotlight drifts away somewhat from the HRI/Kavanagh discussion, racing gratefully accepts its €64 million. It was in no one’s interest to jeopardise government funding, but the idea that racing must stay united and not question some of the elements within its governing structures is off the mark.

The sense that all is now well is dangerous and a far cry from the truth.

Putting up a united front when threatened is only half the battle. Any manager must pull his team along with him, all the participants must have confidence in the leadership, be united behind the chief leading the battle.

If a huge section of the smaller players feel that they are not represented, that their plight is being ignored, if they feel like calling it a day after a lifetime in the sport, a united stance served only a short term purpose.

National Hunt racing was on the brink last year, the summer festivals deflected attention. Irish training and breeding still dominated. But our recent features on training horses in Ireland show a different reality.

But as the winter racing campaign ads on the radio are more frequent - but the “nothing else feels like this” feels a little hollow. Who will feel the hoofbeats in their heart if its four runners, two Mullins, one Elliott, one also ran in a field of four for a Grade 2 hurdle at a premier track.

Jump racing is crumbling at its foundations, leadership means more than uniting to take the state’s funding.