Neil Mulholland is leaning towards Saturday’s Graduation Chase at Haydock as a comeback target for Mad Max.
The giant 10-year-old showed high-class form when trained by Nicky Henderson but has yet to make his debut for his new trainer having been held up by a foot problem.
However, Mulholland feels his charge is ready for a racecourse appearance and is currently looking at a trip to Merseyside, having given the gelding three weekend entries.
“I haven’t spoken to the owner yet, but it would be nice to run the horse in the graduation chase at Haydock,” Mulholland said.
“He’s in the Peter Marsh as well and I’ve also put him in at Ascot if we decide to go that way, but at the moment the graduation chase is the one I’m favouring.
“The horse is fit and well and he’s obviously been ready to run for a while. He just had that corn on his foot which ruled him out of the Becher Chase and it held us up a bit, but he’s in good form now.
“The ground is heavy at Haydock at the moment, which might not be ideal, but the graduation chase will have a small field and it looks a good place for him to come back.
“He does have a high knee action, so I wouldn’t say he won’t handle softer ground, but he would probably enjoy nicer ground a bit better.”
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