Another for favourite backers as Clock scores

Stop The Clock made it three from three for favourite backers at Sligo this evening as she took the Ellen's Pub Maugherow Handicap Hurdle under Jody McGarvey for Christy Roche.

The JP McManus owned, five-year-old daughter of Oscar, won her maiden hurdle on her second start at Thurles in January and after a three runs in handicap company she ran well on her last start to finish just a length behind Usa at Ballinrobe.

Having opened at 9/4 this morning, she was backed on track from 2/1 into 13/8 clear favourite at the off.

Her early morning market rival was the Tony Martin trained Lancing He was 11/4 last night with Paddy Powers but opened on track at 5/1 before going off an 11/2 chance.

Stop The Clock hit the front before the second last, she kicked on from there and was pushed out on the run-in to see off the Niall Madden ridden Tin Town Boy (7/1) by a length and a quarter at the line.

Fairley's Risk was a further a three and a half lengths back in third under Mark Bolger for Michael McElhone at 28/1 while big market drifter Lancing finished fifth under Ruby Walsh.

Frank Berry, racing manager for JP McManus, said afterwards: "That was grand and she did it nicely. She jumped away well and she handled the ground.

"We'll look for something similar down the road for her now. She ran well the last day and it’s nice to see her coming back and doing it.

"She seems to handle those conditions well and hopefully the handicapper won’t go mad."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson