NEWSBOY'S ITV4 SELECTIONS ALEX THE GREAT

Win may book Champion tilt

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ALEXEI is fancied to continue his upward curve by defying top weight in the Ascot Rotary Club Festive Handicap Hurdle (3.35) at the royal racecourse this afternoon.

The five-year-old has been touted as a lively outsider for the Champion Hurdle after two victories in the handicap sphere this season.

After a pipe-opening second at Chepstow in October, the Joe Tizzard trainee went one better over this course and distance at the start of the following month.

And Alexei took another step forward to land Cheltenham's Greatwood Handicap Hurdle by six lengths from Helnwein.