After Altior's defection from last week's Tingle Creek left a sour taste in the mouths of racing fans, Richard Mann hopes Cheltenham can give the sport a much-needed lift this weekend.
We all need a lift sometimes, especially so in this year of all years, and racing fans need a boost more than most after last weekend's Altior debacle put the sport in the spotlight for the wrong reasons and left many of its biggest cheerleaders struggling to make sense of another big Saturday that was devoid of jumps racing's brightest star.
Nicky Henderson may well feel his reasons for skipping the Tingle Creek - a decision announced late on Friday night and only a day after the final declarations were made - were entirely justifiable, and in the best interests of his horse, but there is little doubt that racing was the big loser in what became a messy and unsavoury affair.
Not that connections of Politologue were complaining and the Champion Chase hero only enhanced his reputation with another strong display, but the build up to the Tingle Creek had been about the big clash between the big two - the returning king back to fight the reigning champion for his crown - and to deny racing of that, having promised the opposite, was unsatisfactory, to say the least.
Trainer Paul Nicholls was rewarded for his refusal to duck a fight and Lydia Hislop was as impressive as ever when tackling Henderson on the issue on Racing TV on Saturday. Henderson, as he is fully entitled to do, stuck to his guns and could well be rewarded in March, but I dare say racing won't easily forget.
The weekend's events damaged the sport - and I imagine ITV weren't too impressed, either, given how well they have showcased it since becoming owner of its terrestrial coverage - and while Henderson deserves great credit for the amount of time he has always been willing to offer around the big festivals, he might one day look back on in this latest episode with a sense of regret.
This doesn't make Henderson a bad man, of course it doesn't, but Frankel's legacy was shaped in many ways because Aidan O'Brien kept taking him on with his best horses - many whom would go on to have stallion careers - while Sea Of The Stars is remembered for his durability and versatility as much as his brilliance. As for Kauto Star and Denman, don't even get me started.
Henderson is in danger of harming Altior's own legacy - this brilliant racecourse and most magnificent specimen - and while trainers must always evidently tread a fine line, legends are made on the racecourse, not stood in their box watching others carve out their own legacies.
What is clear is that last weekend was a bad one for racing, whether you agree with my sentiments, or indeed think Henderson made the right call, and as such, it's probably good news that racing can rely on Cheltenham to bring some feel-good-factor to the sport again with Friday and Saturday's International Meeting always one to savour.
Ironically, Henderson could be the one to provide the initial boost we all need if old favourite Top Notch is able to win the rerouted Peterborough Chase for a third time. Top Notch is a diminutive figure, but he boasts the heart of a lion, and regardless of recent events, there wouldn't be a more popular winner.
On Saturday, there should be Triumph Hurdle clues aplenty as a host of exciting three-year-olds hold entries in the opener while there will be more Festival pointers in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, particularly if Gordon Elliott decides to make the trip across from Ireland with the improving Fakiera.
All eyes will be on Goshen in the Unibet International Hurdle as he makes his first start over timber since that agonising last-flight fall in last season's Triumph Hurdle, but this has the makings of a strong renewal with the likes of Silver Streak and Song For Someone already looking improved performers this term.
That said, few would deny Jamie Moore - who, at the time of writing, sits one shy of 800 career winners - the opportunity to set the record straight with Goshen, back at Cheltenham of all places. If racing is searching for a dose of something powerful and restorative this weekend, this tale of redemption might well provide it.
Before that, there is a valuable pot up for grabs in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and the Nicholls-trained Master Tommytucker looks an ideal type for the race following deeply impressive recent victories at Huntingdon and Haydock respectively.
One would imagine the smile on Nicholls' face would be the width of the Severn estuary were he to land another big Saturday prize, but Henderson could yet run Mister Fisher who looked really progressive until flopping in bad ground last time.
He remains handicapped to win a race of this stature and victory would be a welcome lift for Henderson, too, on a weekend where racing once again looks to Cheltenham to pick it up from the floor.
The spiritual home of National Hunt racing, Cheltenham rarely lets us down when wrapping its comforting arms around the sport, always delivering top-class racing and unrivalled theatre. Who knows, it might be Henderson who provides a few more of those special moments this weekend.
Cheltenham has been good to him over the years, too, and after all that has gone on in the last week, wouldn't it be something if racing got back on track with Henderson the star of the show? Don't rule it out.