McManus' homebred wins first race of new William Hill series The William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle at Gowran, won by Watching The Clock (14/1), was the first in a new 50-race series sponsored by the leading bookmakers that will run throughout the remainder of the National Hunt season. It was a contest not lacking in drama with three of the 13 starters exiting at the first where Parkgarve ran out and caused chaos in behind. The J P McManus-owned winner, dropping back in trip and running on soft ground for the first time, came from off the pace under Aidan Kelly and had stayed on into third when getting under the last. That didn't halt her momentum, though, and she forged clear on the run-in to beat Bannow Blaze by three and a half lengths with market leader Leave In Secret another three-parts of a length away in third.  Winning trainer Padraig Roche said: "It was great. She stayed at it well, Aidan said the race fell apart a bit. “It’s great to get a winner, she’s a home-bred of Noreen’s (McManus). It’s always nice when the fillies win. “She just about got away with the ground, I’d say. We’ll see what the handicapper does and look for something similar. “This (William Hill) series is a great incentive, so fair play to them. It’s nice to get one on the board in it anyway.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
