Many people prefer the Tote to trackside betting

A complex bet made at the track was responsible for the system collapse.

It ruled out any bets - barring those placed trackside - for the fifth race, the Kim Muir Handicap Chase.

The cost to the Tote - the old state bookmaker - was said to be "large".

Champions Hurdle

Edward Gillespie, managing director of Cheltenham Racecourse, told the BBC: "This was much to the inconvenience of racegoers.

"It was a huge disappointment to them - and to the Tote.

"Someone made a multiple bet, which was apparently incorrectly loaded.

"This took the software down for 25 minutes, and we virtually lost the entire turnover on the fifth race," he added.

By the sixth race the Tote was back up, with some punters left thankful that the system had not gone down for the biggest race of the day, the Champions Hurdle.