Shropshire trainer Henry Daly today geared up a fresh assault on Cheltenham Festival glory with a mixture of anticipation and relief.

The south Shropshire handler will be represented by Pearlysteps in the 4m National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup – the opening race of tomorrow’s second day.

And Daly will head to Prestbury Park in buoyant mood after ending a 70-day wait for a winner yesterday.

A bacterial infection at his Downton Hall stables near Ludlow has badly affected the form of Daly’s horses.

But the victory drought ended yesterday when Up To The Mark, ridden by Richard Johnson, landed the extended 2m 1f Novices’ Handcicap Chase at Startford’s traditional pre-Festival meeting at odds of 3-1.

“It was a relief to get a winner,” admitted Daly. “It has been a bit of a nightmare but what is happening in Japan at the moment puts everything into context.

“The infection is passing. I think to say it has passed would be a brave statement but we are hoping we are through the worse.”

Daly remains coy over the prospects of a famous victory for Pearlysteps in the race for amateur jockeys, but said: “He is in good order.”

Shropshire is also set to be represented by Glenwood Knight in the same race.

But Jon Glews, who owns the horse with fellow Telford businessman Peter Knight, this morning revealed there was a doubt over the eight-year-old’s participation.

“He got a slight knock in his box,” said Glews, who recently became a father to twins James and Harry.

“I would say it’s about 50-50 at the moment.”

Glenwood Knight, who is trained by Donald McCain, is due to be partnered by Shrewsbury’s Richard Burton who recently became Britain’s most successful point-to-point jockey.

By JAMES GARRISON