WAYNE Hutchinson is confident of claiming his first success of the Cheltenham Festival when he rides in the Ryanair Chase this afternoon.

The Swindon-born jockey will be on board Balder Succes in the third race of the day and the seven-year-old has been highly spoken of leading into the festival.

Hutchinson, who fell on his only ride of the first day on L’unique, had a better second day as he came seventh in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle on Ordo Ab Chao.

“The horse ran well but probably could have done with more of an end to end gallop for him really, it turned into a bit of a sprint," he said.

“He has travelled and jumped well and he has banged three out down to two out and just got caught flat footed from the back of the second last turning in and once the speed had gone out of the others they hadn’t any further away from him and he stayed on well up the hill.

“He has run very well and he will run the Smashers chase next year and three miles.”

Balder Succes, who is an 8/1 shot, has won on his last two outings and finished behind Special Tiara, Dodging Bullets and God’s Own, all of whom have performed well already this week, in the previous three races.

“It has been my best chance on paper all week,” added Hutchinson.

“His form has been boosted this week with Gods Own finishing second in the Arkle and Dodging Bullets winning the Queen Mother and Special Tiara finishing third, so he has boasted very strong form.

“He is in good nick and we are very much looking forward to him.

“It is all about getting into a rhythm. Just trying to get out of the gates and up over the first three and then you take a view from there.”

Hutchinson also has two outsiders to ride on day three in the form of The Tourard Man in the Pertemps Network Final, 25/1, and Hollow Penny in the Brown Advisory and Merriebelle Stable Plate, 40/1.

“The Tourard Man is a very tough individual and he has run well all season,” said Hutchinson.

“He was third at Exeter at the last day when again the race turned into a sprint from home and that wouldn’t have suited him.

“Hopefully an end to end gallop will be up his street and he has got bundles of stamina, winning over three miles at Warwick and he is the right end of the weights and should be competitive.

“Hollow Penny is a novice taking on handicappers. He didn’t actually qualify for the novice because, where he is rated 142, he is 2lbs to high to get in the novice race so this is the next step for him.

“He had a mid-winter break because he doesn’t like deep ground, he had a come-back race three weeks ago and finished second behind Irish Saint.

“He has blown the cob-webs away is in good order and novices have good records in the handicaps at Cheltenham.”