Saturday 14th February
On a St Valentine’s Day card at Wincanton, it was ambition rather than romance in the air as Alexei powered his way into the Champion Hurdle picture with victory in the Grade Two BetMGM Kingwell Hurdle.
Now as short as 16-1 for next month’s Unibet Champion Hurdle at The Cheltenham Festival, the six-year-old (Joe Tizzard/Brendan Powell, 1-2 Favourite) justified market confidence with a decisive performance in the two-mile contest.
Sporting the famous silks of Garth and Anne Broom’s Brocade Racing, Alexei stalked longtime leader Rubaud before sweeping past approaching the final flight. Though hanging in the closing stages, he kept on strongly to secure a length and a quarter success.
Successful trainer Joe Tizzard said: “He was stepping up in grade and Rubaud has got a cracking record around there. The ground was also soft enough.
“He has gone and got the job done in Graded company. There are discussions to be had, but we’ll have a crack (at the Champion Hurdle).
“A bigger field with a stronger gallop suits him. He is a good traveller through a race, and the Champion Hurdle is something to aim at.
“Whether he is good enough, we’ll find out, but I think one thing he will do is travel into it and if he is good enough, he is good enough.
“It is exciting and it was a nice win today in its own right.”
Winning rider Brendan Powell added: “I went to put the race to bed between two out and the last.
“He had a bit of a look at the last, which he has done before, but he got from A to B. It gave the second horse a bit of a sniff but I was really happy with the way he picked up again, especially in that ground.
“He has come here and won a Kingwell and I’ll leave the Champion Hurdle with the boss and Garth and Anne to decide. I wouldn’t mind having a go in it anyway!”
History offers encouragement. Three winners of the Kingwell Hurdle this century – Hors La Loi III (2002), Katchit (2008) and Golden Ace (2025) – went on to land the Champion Hurdle, and connections will hope Alexei can follow in distinguished footsteps next month.
Earlier on the card, Queens Gamble (Harry Derham/Paul O’Brien, 100-30) returned to winning ways in the Listed BetMGM Agatha Christie Mares’ Novices’ Chase, rescheduled from Exeter following last Sunday’s abandonment.
The eight-year-old secured her fourth Listed success – having previously struck twice in bumpers and once over hurdles at the same level – with a determined display in the two-mile contest. She overhauled 1-3 Favourite Bluey just after the second last and stayed on strongly to win by two and a quarter lengths.
Harry Derham said: “I’m so, so pleased for her owners (Alex Frost and Ed Galvin). There are a big group of people behind this mare and she had a torrid summer with two really bad bouts of colic.
“I think her owners would want to say thank you very much to Emily Matten, who looks after her when she goes back to Ladywood Stud and my travelling head girl Amy who rides her at home every day – when she complains she can’t hold her I know she’s in good form. I can claim no credit for this win at all!
“It means a lot for her to win again because at one stage during the summer we were wondering if she would even come back into training as she had such a torrid time. For her owners, I am absolutely chuffed to bits.
“Obviously black type for mares is important, and she is almost like a family pet to the Frosts and Galvins – they adore her. Just to see her get another day in the sun is really, really special.
“Emily and Alex’s team at Ladywood did such a fantastic job and she came back to me in really good condition. We said if the engine wasn’t still there, we wouldn’t continue. She has not become the easiest to train, but I knew having that run a couple of weeks ago it would have improved her. She didn’t love the ground today but travelled beautifully and jumped great.
“It was hugely satisfying.”
For Queens Gamble and her devoted team, the result felt particularly fitting on a day that celebrates loyalty and partnership – proof that patience and perseverance can still be rewarded on the racecourse.
