Daryl Jacob: Fusil to fire | Our man reflects on his double at Cheltenham's Showcase meeting

What a wonderful way to start the season at Cheltenham.

Rouge Vif was very good in the Bentley Flying Spur Handicap Chase. It was gutting for Gavin Sheehan not to be able to ride him today, he's a good friend of mine and has done a lot of the work with this horse at home.

I got to ride here but Gavin will be back for his next start and today he felt like a Grade One horse in a handicap.

There's more to come from him too but he was comfortable the whole way round, was always in his stride, jumped well and when he met the rising ground he came up the hill very strongly. I was very impressed - as I was with Fusil Raffles in the Two Farmers Crisps Novices' Chase.

He really came forward from his winning chasing debut at Uttoxeter, which was the perfect starting point for him. He looked magnificent in the parade ring on Friday and had tightened up for that first run.

He'd grown in confidence as you saw through the race and did it well. I think two-and-a-half miles is his trip, one day he might get three, but if we're lucky enough to get back here in March I'd imagine it would be the Marsh route we'd go down.

I just don't think he's quite quick enough for the top-class two mile races, my gut feeling is he's going to be a very good two-and-a-half miler, but all options are open.

Cheltenham Saturday ride

CALIDAD – 5.35 Cheltenham

I go to Cheltenham for one ride on Saturday and hopefully he’s a nice one in the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

I ride Calidad for Harry Whittington and I’ve worked him a couple of times. He’s a horse I think has a really bright future, he’s worked with some of the nicer horses at his yard and gone well.

Harry’s having a great time of things at the moment, his horses are going well, so there’s a good deal of confidence behind this fellow going into the race.