Maxxum – The Improving Horse Set For Cheltenham Test
From a 93-rated, below-average hurdler, to a 6/1 second favourite for victory at the Cheltenham Festival, it has been a long and winding road for Maxxum.
One of the most improved horses in training today, Maxxum has progressed through the hurdling ranks at a rate of knots and is now just a step away from adding a festival win to his name in the Pertemps Network Final.
An Owner’s Dream
A horse like Maxxum is a dream horse for any owner. Yes, having a racehorse that can race at a top level early in their career would be the obvious choice, but those horses are usually only available to the wealthiest of owners.
With a horse such as Maxxum, on the other hand, owners can get in at the ground level of horseracing and can potentially be brought on a rollercoaster ride over the years. For syndicates in particular a horse such as Maxxum is an ideal horse to make the step into ownership with.
Syndicates provide all racing fans with the chance to experience racehorse ownership, with companies like Raceshare bringing together all manner of people to own and have their horses trained at a fraction of the price.
Not only can you get in on the act of your own accord, but family and friends can also surprise you with a racehorse shares gift that may ultimately lead to a dream journey all the way to the Cheltenham Festival.
The Rise Of Maxxum
Maxxum’s career could not have started at a lower level. Just over 12 months ago, the then 5yo made his debut in a Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse, going off as a 125/1 also ran and eventually trailed in a full 50 lengths behind the winner.
His next two starts would see him go off at prices of 125/1 and 100/1, this time being beaten by 45 lengths and 32 lengths respectively. Connections must have been wondering if was it worth their while continuing with the son of Westerner, but they decided to have one more try and were ultimately rewarded for their faith when Maxxum won his first race at Clonmel racecourse in March last year.
Three decent efforts followed, but it was when switched to the powerful yard of Gordon Elliott that Maxxum’s career would take off at an exceptional rate.
Off a lowly handicap mark of 99, Maxxum finished second on his first start for his new trainer, but would then go on to win his next two races, the second of which was a valuable Handicap Hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.
That victory moved Maxxum to a mark of 138, meaning he had now risen an amazing 45 lbs in under a year.
Can Maxxum Win At Cheltenham?
The Pertemps Handicap Hurdle is a notoriously hard race to win at the Cheltenham Festival, but Maxxum may not be finished improving just yet and deserves to take his chance in the wide-open race.
His chances of victory took a knock with him finishing well down the field back at Leopardstown last time, but there were excuses for that run and if he can bounce back to his best, come festival time, Maxxum’s rise to the top could well reach its pinnacle at Cheltenham 2023.
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