Wa Wa

Wa Wa was impressive again in winning the two-and-a-half-mile novices’ handicap chase at Naas on Saturday. Settled nicely in mid-division early on by Bryan Cooper, he made good ground down the back straight to move into a share of second place behind King Alex. He travelled well into the home straight, jumped to the front over the second last fence, and came clear on the run to the last. He jumped that fence well, and he came right away from his rivals on the run-in, winning, eased down, by seven and a half lengths in the end.

The handicapper raised Dermot McLoughlin’s horse by 12lb for this win, but you would have expected a significant hike, and he still has the potential to go beyond his new mark of 128. He is only six and he has raced just four times over fences. He was probably unlucky not to win his beginners’ chase at Ballinrobe in August when he was with David Christie, when he wandered on the way to the final fence and just went down by a half a length to The Dabbler in the end. He has continued his progression for Dermot McLoughlin, and there is every chance that he can go higher still. He was good over this intermediate trip, but he won his beginners’ chase at Killarney in October over two miles and seven furlongs, and he could do even better stepped back up in trip.
Naas, 6^th November 2021