Leading point-to-point handler Sean Doyle will be represented on the inaugural Winter Millions card at Lingfield when he sends over his improving hurdler Lucky Max.
Having pulled-up in a pair of four-year-old maidens at Monksgrange and Umma House, when under the care of his younger brother Donnchadh, since progressing to the track Lucky Max has since struck up a sequence of wins over hurdles, with victories coming at Clonmel followed by back-to-back victories in Cork.
That has seen the six-year-old son of Maxios shoot up through the handicap, rising 36lbs from the mark her recorded his initial success, however Doyle is hoping the winning run will not come to an end, with former point-to-point rider Jack Foley booked for the £100,000 Sovereign Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield’s high profile new fixture.
“Lucky Max seems to be in very good form. He started heading over this morning and should arrive at Lingfield this evening, so fingers crossed he travels over okay,” said Doyle on Wednesday morning.
“After maturing really well, he has started to hurdle properly. He was a little up in the air, even going back to his point-to-points, and it has taken him a while to get his jumping together.
“He probably wasn’t quite right last season either, but he seems a different horse now.
“We are hoping for the best – it is a competitive race and definitely a step up on anything he has faced before. If he could pick up some nice prize money, we would be delighted.”
