Daryl Jacob on his Tuesday Cheltenham rides

I've two rides on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

At the time of writing both are 33/1 chances but I'd be very confident they are going to run better than those odds suggest.

First up is Sceau Royal in the Stan James Champion Hurdle. I schooled him last week at Alan King's and he felt in very good form.

He needed the run on his return in the Kingwell at Wincanton last time and I'd expect him to improve on that - and he certainly needs to.

But that said the ground will be very much to his liking and he's a horse who travels well through his races. I'm hopeful of a very big run.

I've ridden Footpad in his last two races and he's progressed all season, Any rain would help him. His run at Leopardstown last time when second to Petit Mouchoir was a cracker and the faster they go the better for him.

Buveur D'Air and Yanworth will run well for JP McManus, Petit Muchoir has gears and won't be easy to reel-in. If he gets an easy lead up front and Bryan Cooper can dictate the pace he wants they may struggle to get past him. 

Buveur D'Air did get the better of him at Aintree last season and may do so again but I do think Sceau Royal is going to run well.

My other ride is Midnight Jazz in the OLBG Mares Hurdle and she has done nothing but improve all year.

She ran a great race at Doncaster the last day, making Vroum Vroum Mag pull out all the stops. I know they say she wasn't right there but it was another step in the right direction for my horse.

She deserves her place in the line up, is another who will relish Tuesday's ground, and she too is no forlorn hope.