Two out of three for Penny Max

Penny Max winning at Newbury December 2011. Photo by GJ Multimedia

Penny Max recorded his second novice chase victory at Exeter when he won the Bathwick Tyres Plymouth Novices’ Chase. On only his third run over fences, Penny Max jumped like a seasoned campaigner in very testing conditions and his class and stamina were too much for his three rivals.

Sent off the 13/8 favourite, Noel Fehily jumped the six-year-old into the lead but rounding the first turn, Penny Max was running rather free. He was jumping with his usual careful presicision but reached for the sixth which steadied him.

As he passed the stands first time round, Penny Max settled in behind the leaders and jumped solidly out in the country. He jumped to the front at the last open ditch down the back straight and took a lengths lead rounding the home turn. A big jump at the second last kept his momentum going on the rain softened ground. The horses were visibly tiring but Penny Max stayed on well up the straight to repel the persistent challenge of Mic’s Delight to win by a length with the others a distance behind.

After the race Noel said, “He could be a very good horse.” Trainer Emma Lavelle is keen to give the horse a rest after his exertions on the testing ground but as a horse on the upgrade, Penny Max is likely to be stepped up in class to graded company on his next outing.