Over 100 miles and three days away but the Cheltenham Festival is in the air

A token cheer greeted the tapes going up for the opener on Imperial Cup day at Sandown. Compared to the throaty roar a crowd of 60,000 plus will let rip at the corresponding time at Cheltenham on Tuesday, it was a murmur at best.

The calm before the storm, Sandown’s pre-festival meeting is an ideal canape before Cheltenham’s four-day banquet, a relaxing afternoon which perfectly whets the festival appetite.

Seven races and seven winners to find for those in attendance, yet the hum in the air centred on who will be winning next week. It’s been a long wait but this is the time to loosen the shackles and throw restraint to the wind, as the festival is all but here.