In-form Lucky Max gets his hat-trick

Lucky Max brought up his hat-trick in the Fermoy Handicap Hurdle at Cork.

The five-year-old gelding made steady headway before two out under Jack Foley and popped that flight well to land full of running in the lead.

The 11/8 favourite jumped the last very slickly and swept home by two and three quarter lengths from R'evelyn Pleasure (40/1). Mahlers Dollar (3/1) was another three lengths away in third but was well clear of fourth-placed Ena Baie (18/1).

Graham Breen representing trainer Sean Doyle said: "He is improving away and we can't believe the improvement. He has strengthened up and is only now coming into his own. He was very good and his jumping was even better than the last day and he gave him a lovely ride.

"We'll look for something at Leopardstown over Christmas and hopefully the handicapper won't give him too much. He'll also jump a fence in time."

Lucky Max started his winning run at Clonmel in October before following up at this track last month.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes