Boston Max shows improvement to win on handicap debut Boston Max (9/1) improved on three poor maiden runs when scoring on handicap debut and a first start as a three-year-old today, landing Dundalk’s Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap for owner Denis Barry, jockey Chris Hayes and trainer Gordon Elliott. The gelded son of Bungle Inthejungle carried form-figures of ‘900’ into today’s race, having beaten just seven rivals, but today competed from a low rating of 49. Held up, Hayes produced Boston Max to lead inside the final furlong, with the pair passing the line 2.5 lengths ahead of Hooves Your Daddy, in a winning-time of exactly 60 seconds. The tongue-tied winner was dropping in distance for today’s first race as a gelding and, afterwards, Elliott’s assistant Ian 'Busty' Almond said “it all worked. He's only a handy little horse though and we actually thought he might want six furlongs. “He showed plenty of pace and it was straightforward. He won well, probably too well, and I told Chris he will hardly get to ride him the next day as he will have to be claimed off. "He will go to turf now and hopefully Derek (Barry, owner) will have a good summer with him. He will get six, but he had no problem with that there. It is great for Derek as he has plenty of horses in the yard." Quotes from Michael Graham
