'The whole place is buzzing. It's like Christmas isn't it?'

It has been 359 days since the 2016 Cheltenham Festival ended. Since then Britain has voted to leave the European Union, America elected its first sentient hairpiece, Rio hosted the Olympic games and Leicester won the Premier League. A lot of water has passed under the bridge, a lot of waiting has been endured. But now, blessed be, the time for patience is almost over.

Rare indeed is it that the British weather has a sense of timing but the blue skies and picnic temperatures prevailing at Sandown could have been purpose-designed for a day such as this, when racing fans across the land – especially those who have booked next week off work – are savouring that intensely luxuriant feeling of being poised on the cusp of a very good thing indeed. Work is done, spring is sprung and Cheltenham is right around the corner. Turns out life's not so bad after all.

Imperial Cup day at Sandown is a perfect aperitif for Cheltenham – not too busy, not too high-profile, just a relaxing day at the races to whet the appetite – but few among the crowd today are anticipating next week with the same degree of excitement as Ed Chamberlin, the presenter who has the responsibility of helming the first Cheltenham Festival ever to be broadcast on ITV. It is the biggest test yet for racing's new terrestrial partner, but if the pressure is getting to him it's not showing.