Connections eye Ulster National for in-form Wa Wa

Wa Wa (15/2) confirmed his well-being under a confident Bryan Cooper in the three mile Rockbrook Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The eight-year-old gelding followed up on a victory over an extended 2m6f at Navan last month with this win.

He tanked into contention two out and soon headed Plain Or Battered rounding the home turn. Cooper could afford a look behind at his rivals as he kept his mount wide and the pair strode clear before the final hurdle.

The jockey eased him right down in the closing stages to record a winning margin of a length and a quarter which in no way represented his superiority to this field. Atacanter kept on for second, without laying a glove on the winner, at 22/1 and was four lengths clear of 4/1 favourite Pure Sirloin

This was trainer Dermot McLoughlin's fourth winner from his last 10 runners. He also ran last year's Irish Grand National hero Lord Lariat and he finished seventh.

Racing TV broadcaster Gary O'Brien is part of the Seven Figures Partnership and said: “I'm absolutely chuffed. He seems to have got his mojo back for whatever reason. He travelled and jumped much sweeter today than he did in Navan.

“Bryan was keen to come back and ride him. Obviously he'd had a bit of time off, so that was a good sign I suppose.

“We'll have a chat with Dermot but the Ulster National (at Downpatrick) was the race David Christie said would suit him, when we bought him off him.

“Hopefully now that has helped his confidence and we might have a crack at that but I'll see what Dermot says.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson