Clock strikes in opener Stop The Clock ran out a cosy winner of the opening mares maiden hurdle at Thurles this afternoon. The two-mile event didn't look the strongest on paper and Christy Roche's charge improved nicely from her debut run to land the spoils in good style. Alan Crowe tracked the leaders on the JP McManus-owned daughter of Oscar before hitting the front at the third last. The 6/1 shot was in control at the next and kept on strongly in the closing stages to post a three-and-a-half length verdict over Peinora. Newcomer Sizing Kimberlite was an uneasy 7/4 favourite (from 5/4) but after disputing three out dropped away tamely in the straight to finish sixth. The winner had finished mid-division in seventh behind impressive winner Un Atout when a 33/1 shot on her debut at Navan. “She came on from Navan and she's a great jumper,” said McManus' racing manager Frank Berry afterwards. “The ground doesn't seem to be too bad and she handled it well. We'll find a little mares hurdle for her somewhere now.” (Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
