Kingwell could see Alexei book his Cheltenham ticket

Alexei will “definitely have a tilt at the Champion Hurdle” providing he passes his BetMGM Kingwell Hurdle assignment at Wincanton on Saturday.

Joe Tizzard’s six-year-old has rapidly risen through the ranks this term, following up a second in the Welsh Champion Hurdle with victories at Ascot and in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham.

He had to settle for third under the burden of top-weight back at Ascot prior to Christmas, but connections have always been keen to test Alexei’s credentials in graded company and now he has the chance to play himself into the equation for the two-mile hurdling showpiece next month.

Tizzard said: “This has always been the plan since before Christmas and I’m looking forward to running him. I think he’ll handle the ground as well as anything and he’s doing all his work at home well.

“He’s been in lovely form all season, has had a little freshen up and I’m keen to have a crack in a bit better company.

“I’m looking forward to Saturday, but if he comes through this really well he will definitely have a tilt at the Champion Hurdle. He’s a progressive young horse who didn’t train on last season, but has been in beautiful form this season.”

Tizzard’s enthusiasm is matched by Gold Cup-winning owners Brocade Racing with Garth and Anne Broom set for their first racecourse outing of the year to watch the horse who could put them back in the Cheltenham Festival spotlight.

Broom added: “It is our local track so we’re looking forward to it. We’ll see how we get on and this will tell us a bit more about where we stand.

“The going might not be ideal, but we don’t know until we try it and I think he has handled that sort of ground in Germany and everyone seems to think he will be perfectly fine anyway. Personally I think he is better on faster ground, but you can only run on what is presented to you.

“He’s quite surprised us really and even though Joe said he came in from summer a much stronger horse, we weren’t expecting him to improve as much as he has and be as good as he has been. Let’s hope it continues.”

Alexei’s biggest threat will be provided by Paul Nicholls’ three-time Elite Hurdle Rubaud who has only once tasted defeat at this venue.

He was last seen finishing third in the Christmas Hurdle behind Sir Gino, and Nicholls told Betfair: “He loves Wincanton, but I’m not entirely sure he’s in love with really testing ground. But you can say that about the one we’ve got to beat, Alexei, most of his form has been on better ground. He did win the Greatwood on slower ground at Cheltenham, but that was off a mark of 134.

“I’m not convinced either of them wants it too testing so it will be an interesting tactical race. Rubaud is fresh and well, I think he’s got a lovely chance.

“He’s been a great horse for the yard, he won the Pendil Novices’ Chase last season, he’s won all those hurdle races, and he’s done very well this season. He ran very well in the Christmas Hurdle, that was a good run, so if he reproduces that he’ll be hard to beat.”

Hughie Morrison’s Secret Squirrel returns from over a year off the track, while the field of four is complete by Daisy Hitchins’ stable debutant Intellotto.