Alexei introduced himself as an actual prospect for Joe Tizzard together with his efficiency within the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The German-bred gelding was second to Celtic Dino within the Welsh Champion Hurdle on his seasonal reappearance after which received a useful Ascot handicap, races that led properly into his well-backed Greatwood bid, for which his Chepstow conqueror was a non-runner because of the floor.
Despatched on his method because the 100-30 favorite below Brendan Powell, after travelling handily all through he confirmed loads of potential to work his method by the sphere and hit the entrance up the hill, powering clear after the final for an emphatic six-length triumph.
“He went up 7lb for his Ascot performance, (but) came out of it really well and I thought this was the best I’d had him but this was a step up again. To go away like he did after the last, it was a proper performance,” mentioned Tizzard, who additionally loved a winner earlier on the cardboard by the Powell-ridden Triple Commerce.
“Coming to the final, I did simply surprise what he was going to search out, however Brendan mentioned he needed firm coming all the way down to it as a result of he simply has a glance when he will get to the final.
“He won over two-mile-three in his maiden last year, so a fast-run two miles is ideal for him. The ground was my only concern, but it didn’t hinder him at all.”
He added: “I am simply having fun with what he is doing in the mean time, Ascot was solely two weeks in the past and he ran a blinder at Chepstow, so we have had two cracking weekends with him. I am aware that he is carried out that twice in a fortnight, and on slower floor this time.
“I haven’t got a plan with him, the plan was these two and that’s where we’re at.
“Garth and Anne (Broom) are one of the best house owners you’ll be able to want for, they deserve each success they get.”
A delighted Garth Broom, whose most famous day at Cheltenham to date was with Native River in the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup, added: “He was extra spectacular there than he was at Ascot, wasn’t he?
“We looked up his German form and he’d run well on soft and heavy over there. I think he could be (better than a handicapper).”
Soldier Reeves strikes, with Ambiente Pleasant fourth on hurdling debut
Soldier Reeves sparkled within the mallardjewellers.com Maiden Hurdle, as final 12 months’s Derby runner-up Ambiente Pleasant needed to accept fourth on his hurdling bow at Cheltenham.
Dan and Harry Skelton’s very good run of type was persevering with with the 14-1 winner, who prevailed by a half a size on what was his personal hurdling debut, with Gaelic Delight in second and Bespoke Tailor the third horse house.
The James Owen-trained Ambiente Pleasant, in the meantime, an 11-2 probability below Sam Twiston-Davies, was confronted with a really totally different contest to his 2024 effort behind the much-vaunted Metropolis Of Troy at Epsom. He led with a wholesome benefit for a great distance earlier than tiring, though to his credit score he didn’t drop away and stored making an attempt.
Of Soldier Reeves, Dan Skelton mentioned: “He was way too keen in bumpers and if he ran in bumpers for much longer he was going to learn to over-race. Even the at the last there, he over-jumped. He’s got a lot to learn, but he’s got a big engine. I thought he could win, I didn’t necessarily think we would, but I thought he could.
“I feel we’ll stick at two miles for so long as we dare, actually. I need to educate him to race correctly.”
Anthony Honeyball’s Kdeux Saint Fray confirmed his potential over fences within the Bottlegreen Novices’ Restricted Handicap Chase.
A faller on debut over the bigger obstacles, he put up a real exhibiting of his potential when hanging at 13-2 below Jonathan Burke, together with his stablemate Jordans Cross this time the faller when the 11-4 favorite.
Honeyball mentioned: “He jumped like we thought he could today, he handled the ground and is just a nice horse going forward. I thought it was a tough race, top-weight and a five-year-old and I was wondering if I’d done the right thing, but he came through it and toughed it out well.
“We’ll go for the John Francome at Newbury now.”
He added of Jordans Cross: “He appears advantageous, I feel he’ll be advantageous, however I will see what they are saying whether or not he is acquired a number of nicks. I feel he’d have been bang there with the winner.”
The Hine Solicitors Speaking Sense Handicap Chase proved one for the Joe Tizzard staff, with Brendan Powell steering Triple Commerce (7-1) to a neck victory over Torneo.
Marble Sands then relished a step up within the journey to take the Oddschecker Handicap Chase for David Killahena and Graeme McPherson, a four-length victory at 7-1 below Kielan Woods.
The concluding Three Counties Christmas Open Nationwide Hunt Flat Race was taken by Tom Cooper’s Saint Clovis, a 12-1 shot who was ridden by Harry Cobden to win by 4 and three quarter lengths.
