Mac justifies favouritism under Cooper

Tempo Mac justified market confidence as ran out a convincing winner of the Family Fun Evening At Clonmel Handicap Hurdle.

The Gordon Elliott trained gelding was about to challenge Stay With It when he crashed out at the second last on his most recent outing at Kilbeggan.

Available at 4/1 last night with Paddy Power he opened on-course at just 7/4 before going off the 11/8 favourite.

Settled towards rear by Bryan Cooper he was fourteenth with a circuit to race. He took closer order after three out and was pushed along in fourth approaching the next.

He hit the front on the run to the last and he kept on well on the run-in, winning comfortably by two and a half lengths. Pleased As Punch finished second at 25/1 under Niall Madden for Austin Leahy while Santo Prince (12/1) was a further length and a quarter back in third under Andrew Lynch for Robbie Hennessy.

Stay With It was sent off the 5/1 second favourite and he finished a very disappointing last.

Bryan Cooper said afterwards: "They went a good gallop, and he deserved one as he's been unlucky a few times.

"I was always confident of getting there as he's a good turn of foot. He learned from the fall, and jumped quite well today."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee