Housemartin and Philip Enright© Photo Healy Racing
The Edward O'Grady trained Housemartin registered a second career win when staying on best under Phillip Enright to land the Connolly's Red Mills Handicap Hurdle at Roscommon.
Off the mark at Clonmel last October, the grey had hinted at a return to that sort of form when fourth at Sligo on his most recent appearance.
Held up towards rear here, Enright made stylish progress to go third entering the straight, disputing with Wa Wa from two out, as leader Solly Attwell weakened.
The pair were locked in a battle from the back of the last but the O'Grady trained seven-year-old forged ahead on the run-in to win by three-and-a-quarter lengths.
Edward O’Grady: “I was going to go chasing with him and he ran well in Sligo so we said we’d have one more go with him over hurdles.
“It wasn’t ideal to be out the back but he jumped his way into it beautifully. I felt the three hurdles in the straight would be a help to him.
“He’ll probably go chasing next.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
