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Alexei makes winning return at Aintree

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Sat 7 Nov 2026

Alexei justified 4-7 favouritism in the William Hill Molyneux Hurdle at Aintree to make both a winning return to action and lay down an early Champion Hurdle marker in the process.Fourth in the Cheltenham Festival showpiece last season, he arrived on Merseyside ready to confirm he was one of the leading names in Britain this term, with his task in the Grade Two event made easier with the absence of Dan Skelton’s Mydaddypaddy, who was withdrawn on Friday.Joe Tizzard’s six-year-old was being ridden for the first time by Harry Cobden who was deputising for the injured Brendan Powell, and he tracked the early pace set by Nicky Henderson’s Lucky Place in third place, with Gordon Elliott’s Mange Tout closest to the leader in second.Nudged closer by Cobden entering the straight, Mange Tout was left in front after a mistake two out from Lucky Place but Alexei breezed alongside and as the two main protagonists jumped the last in unison, Cobden soon asked his mount to assert with an instant response.Alexei was kept up to his work for a four-length success over the Irish raider and saw his odds for the Champion Hurdle shortened to 12-1 from 20s by Paddy Power.

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