Veteran Max makes mark at Clonmel

Amidst a highly successful period for local kennels to begin the 2019 season, Clonmel’s meeting on Sunday of last week brought a wonderful return to winning ways for Paul Hogan’s game veteran Five Alley Max when registering his twelfth career victory on the approach to his fifth birthday!

A stalwart in a kennel renowned for keeping runners fresh to the later stages of racing careers, Five Alley Max (Barefoot Bolt/Five Alley Kathy) had gone close in both of his previous A5 outings and this highly suitable grade would offer realistic claims again this time when housed in Trap 3.

Breaking well of late, he would be quickest to stride at trap rise and in truth, had the result in his own paws when leading on the run to the opening bend. Turning with a half length to spare, he would readily extend his advantage to the back-straight when almost three lengths clear at halfway.

Always a strong runner at the standard 525 yard trip, Max would only extend further clear in the closing stages when galloping to a six length verdict while posting 29.70 (-20). That winning time will keep him in the same A5 grade for his next outing and showing no signs of stopping in the twilight of his career, the April 2014 whelp will prove difficult to contain once more.

 

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