RICHARD DUNWOODY demonstrated his fitness for the Festival with a winner on his return from injury at Sandown yesterday.

Four days before Cheltenham he marked his comeback with a success on Friendship and two unplaced finishes from three rides.

The victory was the ideal build-up to next week's meeting where he is favourite to finish top jockey with rides on Mulligan, Viking Flagship and One Man.

Since fracturing his sternum in a fall at Kempton 13 days ago, Dunwoody has steadily paced his recovery with regular exercise.

And the extent of his fitness was thoroughly examined as he steered Friendship to a battling three quarters of a length win in a three way finish to the Racal Novices Hurdle.

"That was okay," said Dunwoody. "I've been running five miles and day and riding a bike to get back to fitness."

The injury was sore last week but it is most painful when I sneeze, cough or laugh. I know exactly how many times I've sneezed or coughed in the last fortnight!