Tax For Max

Tax For Max did well to finish second to Teahupoo in the Grade 3 juvenile hurdle that opened proceedings at Fairyhouse on Saturday. The Maxios gelding was very keen early on in behind Crassus and Teahupoo, and his jumping wasn’t fluent, probably as a result. He did settle better as they raced down the back straight, and his jumping warmed up. He travelled well to the home turn in behind the two leaders, and he moved to the outside to challenge on the run to the second last flight. He nodded a little on landing over that obstacle, and it never really looked like he was going to get to Teahupoo, but he kept on nicely up the run-in to get past Crassus and into second place, coming away from that rival on the run to the line.

It was a more than satisfactory debut over hurdles from Willie Mullins’ horse, in a race that the trainer won last year with Burning Victory, who went on to win the Triumph Hurdle next time. A winner over 10 furlongs on the flat in Germany, Tax For Max is a half-brother to Tiger Tap Tap, a good juvenile hurdler for Willie Mullins who reached a peak rating of 136. Tax For Max should learn to settle better as he gains experience over hurdles, and he could progress significantly as he does.
Fairyhouse, 27^th February 2021