3.35 1m. 7f. 157yds. 13 Declared. Ascot Rotary Club Festive Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1 ) of £125,000.00 3-y-o plus
1st - €71,188.00 2nd - €26,712.00 3rd - €13,375.00 4th - €6,662.00 5th - €3,350.00 6th - €1,675.00
Formscan - The highly progressive ALEXEI bids to defy a 13lb hike. A C&D winner before landing the Greatwood at Cheltenham in fine style, another bold bid is anticipated from Joe Tizzard's five-year-old. At the other end of the weights, Mondo Man could prove better than his opening mark with last month's comeback run at Lingfield under his belt, while Live Conti is another making his handicap debut having finished second in the Grade 1 Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree in April. Wilful is preferred to last year's winner Fiercely Proud of the rest.