Edwardstone just touched off but still well on course for the festival

race of the season yet effectively it was only his second.

I’m sure he’ll show the benefit at Cheltenham – he’ll go straight there, rather than heading for the Game Spirit at Newbury – and the Queen Mother Champion Chase looks a more open race now, with Energumene only third last Saturday.

Having been away for a break, it was great to return with a winner on my first day back on course as Grandeur D’Ame won the novice handicap chase at Huntingdon.

He’d run very well on his chasing debut at Chepstow, only to get stuck in the mud at Lingfield, and it was encouraging that he was able to win on a right-handed course.

He clearly wasn’t suited by it and is unlikely to race that way round again – our hand was forced by cancellations elsewhere and luckily he got away with it last week.

He fought back bravely after looking beaten at the final fence and should build on that, although he’s quite a delicate horse who doesn’t stand a lot of racing.

That has been the case for three others who all made encouraging comebacks from long breaks last week.

Rayapour was a very pleasing third on his first run for nearly 600 days in the maiden hurdle on the same card, taking a blow jumping the third-last flight and being looked after from that point.

He’s had a few issues, so it was important that he was perfectly sound afterwards. I’d expect him to take a big step forward from that run and I hope he’ll prove he’s still a proper horse.

It was also good to see Es Perfecto finish an encouraging third at Uttoxeter on his return from an even longer break.

Again, the good news is that he was 100 per cent sound the following morning and he’s another who’ll come on considerably for the race.

He’ll have another two or three runs this spring and should be a cracking prospect for novice chases next season.

Saturday Song will also improve for his second place in the maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter, having been off for 563 days.

He’s a big, scopey horse who’ll get better with experience and could be one to look forward to - he and Es Perfecto will be given time to get over their exertions but should be back out in a month or so.