WILLIE Mullins and Henderson had already crossed swords in the Listed 32Red.com Mares’ Hurdle, with the former saddling the first and second favourites in Gitane Du Berlais and Petite Parisienne.

They were disappointing on this occasion as Henderson’s Polly Peachum led two out and kept on grimly to hold The Govaness by a head with Fairytale Theatre nearly four lengths away in third.

Betting patterns are not always logical but Polly Peachum looked exceptional value at 9/2 on her very close second to another of Mullins’ mares, Glens Melody, in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. Kim Bailey’s Emily Gray was well back that day but just accounted for Gitane Du Berlais, very short at 6/4 last week, at Carlisle in November. Clearly, punters expected the latter to step up considerably on that form but she could manage only fourth, while Petite Parisienne beat only one home.

“Polly Peachum is very tough and she’s done well,” Henderson said. “She hates that ground but she’d die for you and suits David Bass very well.”

The jockey was moving on to 37 winners for the season and should easily record his highest tally, 46 last term.

This Sandown race was introduced six years ago and Henderson has won it four times. Polly Peachum may well go straight to the Mares’ Hurdle and will almost certainly be retired afterwards.

Of course, Mullins still has Annie Power waiting in the wings, mindful of the fact that she was in the process of hacking up in the Cheltenham race last year until the fateful mistake at the last which downed so many accumulator bets. The team that Mullins could bring over this year is nothing short of frightening.