Henderson hopeful Peaky Boy can take advantage of Mullins absence

Damage mostly done, Willie Mullins is allowing the Brits some respite, foregoing potentially lucrative hauls at Cheltenham’s midweek meeting before chasing the big bucks at Ayr this weekend and Sandown’s seasonender the Saturday after.

His absence has made Cheltenham’s popular two-day fixture more competitive, rather than less, this afternoon’s handicap-heavy card attracting over 100 runners.

There are no gimmes. With Nicky Henderson’s team in rude health again, the highly-regarded Peaky Boy will probably be the shortest priced runner of the day in the opening novices’ hurdle, but even he’s no good thing up against eight other previous winners.

Then we’re into a succession of devilishly tricky handicaps, including the £70k centrepiece, the Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy Chase, featuring several who acquitted themselves well without placing at Prestbury Park last month.

Sail Away missed the Festival, his trainer Dan Skelton waiting instead for the ground to dry out, which it has, just about.

This is Sail Away’s time of year and after three respectable efforts in high-end handicaps, he served notice that another strike was imminent when far from disgraced in the Grade One Ascot Chase. He did finish last of the four runners, but not far behind top-notchers L’Homme Presse and Ahoy Senor, whom he almost caught for third.

A knee-jerk reaction was that the grey was flattered to finish so close, but his jumping held up throughout against top-class opposition and it may be that, still only eight, he is just starting to realise his full potential.

James Bowen wins aboard Peaky Boy at Cheltenham in January

The Flat turf season is warming up nicely this week with day-two of Newmarket’s Craven meeting, headlined by the Nell Gwyn Stakes, a long-recognised trial for the 1000 Guineas.

Fallen Angel, the Karl Burketrained favourite, will apparently go straight for the fillies’ classic at Newmarket on 5 May without a prep, but second favourite Dance Sequence is taking in the Nell Gwyn, a route trodden successfully by Cachet two years ago. Trainer Charlie Appleby is upbeat about her chances, both today and in the 1000 Guineas.

“She has already won over Newmarket’s course and distance and looks the one to beat,” he said.

Standing in her way is Aidan O’Brien’s Matrika, successful twice as a juvenile, either side of a near miss at Royal Ascot. For Mullins over the jumps, read O’Brien on the Flat when it comes to sharp Irish thorns in the side and though Matrika may not have the same scope as Dance Sequence, she must not to be taken lightly.