Nick Alexander's 'badly needed' strong January continues as Hombre De Guerra stars in a double

Nick Alexander's strong start to 2025 continued with a double, headlined by course regular Hombre De Guerra's success in the 2m½f novice handicap chase.

The seven-year-old defied a 10lb hike in the handicap for his impressive course-and-distance win 18 days ago with a three-quarter length victory under Sean Quinlan. 

Alexander rapidly doubled up when Ginger Mail took the 2m4½f handicap hurdle and the haul took the trainer's strike-rate this month to a healthy 24 per cent.

"This month's been badly needed because we had a slow time in December for whatever reason," the trainer said. "I'm delighted with how it's going and very pleased Ayr put on an extra fixture."

Alexander added: "They both had to tough it out and had to really work hard. We thought the handicapper was harsh on Hombre De Guerra and he very nearly got him beaten! The only horse to beat him over fences is Caldwell Potter, which bodes well.

"Ginger Mail and his half-brother [Elvis Mail] have been great for us. He was second in the Morebattle Hurdle last year and he'd come down to a lovely mark, but this opens more options up for us."

Whillans winner

Trainer Ewan Whillans saddled his first jumps winner at the track as Topkapi Star routed the opposition in the 2m5½f handicap hurdle.

The eight-year-old's 20-1 shock success was the dual-purpose handler's jumps breakthrough at Ayr at the 47th attempt.

Ewing off the mark

Sam Ewing notched his first track winner when victorious on the Gordon Elliott-trained Undeniable Alibi in the 3m Handicap Chase.

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