On an evening when the punters definitely had the better of the exchanges, Hu Ha Jo became the fifth winning favourite or joint favourite (the other two races went to well-backed second market-choices). This fellow ran out a silk-smooth four and a half length victor of the concluding Waterford & Tramore Supporters Club Handicap Hurdle.
The son of Gulland was following up a Wexford win from last Friday evening. He was due to go up 12Ibs for that, so in theory the six-year-old was 6Ib 'well-in.' With Conor Maxwell claiming 7Ibs off his back, it was understandable that he would start so short for a handicap.
Maxwell got a fall from Sue Sue earlier on the programme and rode Hu Ha Jo with a badly bruised arm. However he only had to do the minimum to keep trainer, Caroline Hutchinson's fantastic recent run going. (EM)
