Alexei makes winning return at Aintree

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this term, with his task in the Grade Two event made easier with the absence of Dan Skelton's Mydaddypaddy , who was withdrawn on Friday.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.

Tizzard said: “That was smashing and a lovely reappearance, you couldn't ask for much more really.

“I thought he was a bit sleepy for the first half of the race but then came alive and got the job done well giving plenty of weight to a good mare.

“He looked to have Gordon's mare covered and I think a better run race will suit us better as he's a good traveller through a race.

“I couldn't have wished for a nicer start and I think he'll improve no end physically for that run and I think it will really sharpen him up.”

Alexei will now head to Newcastle at the end of the month for the Fighting Fifth, with the Venn Farm handler charting a path back to the Festival in March for another crack at the opening day feature.

Tizzard added: “We've got three weeks now until the Fighting Fifth and then after that we'll go to the Christmas Hurdle. We're going to treat him as a Champion Hurdle horse.

“He ran well in the race last year and going back there is what we want to do. We've said that throughout the summer and he only needs a little bit of progression and he is right in the mix.”