This Prestige Steeplechase over 4150m saw Max outstay and outslog them in the holding mud to win as the second favourite. The footing presented at Ellerslie was a testing Heavy holding and the margins back to most of the also rans all day was absolutely colossal. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were co-leader (one-off the inside), led (four-off the inside and length and a half clear), led (six-off the inside and two lengths clear), second (twelve-off the inside and a head from the leader), fifth (thirteen-off the inside and length and a half from the leader), led (fifteen-off the inside and a neck clear), third (fourteen-off the inside and a length from the leader), fourth (eighteen-off the inside and two lengths from the leader) and led (thirteen-off the inside and a length clear). Max settled back as usual and was still ninth a lap out and eighth on the hill the final time before going through fifth two fences from home and he was second at the 400m. The rising 10yo led at the 150m and scored by four lengths in 5:07.59 but that time cannot be trusted as the maiden steeplechase prior ran exactly the same time and that is simply not believeable or plausible whatsoever. It was the seventh win from twenty-six starts for Max and his fifth as a steeplechaser of which two are now Prestige wins. Perry Mason raced sixth and came through to second over the hill the last time and was third over the final fence before leading at the 300m then got headed at the 150m. Lacustre raced handy early and was sixth a lap out then reached fourth two fences out and was into third at the 200m. Chocolate Fish raced fourth mostly then drifted back ninth over the hill the last time and was tenth with two fences to go only to get his second wind from eighth a fence out and ran on again for fourth beaten six lengths. Gargarin the favourite raced seventh and improved fourth over the hill the last time and was third two fences out before weakening a tad. The Arabian Duke and Kings Kite were grinding away only type efforts and Joking after racing third took the front inside the final circuit and he still was in front albeit narrowly over the final fence. He weakened when headed but is not far away from showing some form on this effort. Magic Wonder settled down last and never really looked a possibility plus she may need looser heavy footing. Thenamesbond led then was headed inside the last lap before drifting out badly and was last over the final fence of those still standing. Highly Likely moved up second early only to lose his rider 1600m out. This was also not a very strong field at all and the winner Max has these covered bar Chocolate Fish when they get up to three times over the hill here.