SWINDON jockey Wayne Hutchinson believes that Balder Succes is his best chance of picking up a winner at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

The 34-year-old rides the seven-year-old horse in the Ryanair Chase on Thursday, March 12 and is excited by the prospect.

After winning a Listed prize at Kempton in January, Balder Succes clinched Grade One honours in the Ascot Chase last month, but having fallen in the Triumph Hurdle in 2012 and unseated his rider in the Champion Hurdle last year Hutchinson will be looking for more luck this time out.

“I am very excited with Balder Succes, I think he can run a huge race and he will be my best chance of success all week,” said Hutchinson.

“He has come to hand lovely in his last couple of runs and the step up to two and a half miles has brought more improvement and he has won the last two.

“Touch wood he is a slick jumper and that is something that you need, a horse that can travel and jump out of a rhythm around Cheltenham.

“I think he ticks all the boxes in that way.”

The Swindon-born jockey, who rides for trainer Alan King at Barbury Castle, will also have his first taste in the festival’s pinnacle race, The Gold Cup.

Hutchinson will be on board 20-1 shot Smad Place, who finished runner-up in last year’s RSA Chase, and believes the horse has good each-way value.

“I very much look forward to riding in the Gold Cup,” he added.

“He was a high class hurdler and he just got touched off in the Sun Alliance last year.

“He has got good Cheltenham course form at the festivals, he was third in two World Hurdles, so he has the class and course form at the festival counts for huge amounts.

“He ran very well on trials day back in January where he was second behind Many Clouds and he was in receipt of 8lbs that day and it was his first run back since the Hennessey which took a lot out of him.

“He is in good form at home and we think he is even better now.”

Hutchinson also has a ride on Ordo Ob Chao in the Neptune Novices on Wednesday and he has been impressed with the 12-1 shot.

“He won on trials day and was very impressive,” said Hutchinson.

“I am very pleased with him and he has won three out of four this season. He has been very progressive.

“He is a ready-made horse and he has certainly got a live chance.”