Clonmel, Tuesday 14 April 2026: Day Tips

Clonmel, Tuesday 14 April 2026: Day Tips

A seven-race card at Clonmel on yielding to soft ground gives us a proper test of stamina and jumping ability. The going will sort them out, particularly in the novice chase and the marathon handicap hurdle. Three races stand out as genuinely puntable, and there is a standout NAP on the card that looks straightforward at a workable price.

7:12 — Botanica International Rated Novice Chase (2m4f)

Selection: Littlefoot Each-Way — 6/1 (Bet365, William Hill, Coral)

The Spotlight data here is compelling. Littlefoot relished the switch to fences when winning on chasing debut at Downpatrick just 16 days ago, coming from the back to win over 19.5f on yielding ground. That was an encouraging performance and the step up to 2m4f today looks entirely manageable. The top RPR in the race belongs to Great Universe at 137, but Great Universe was 7.5 lengths behind Littlefoot at that Downpatrick meeting and gets just 10lb back, which likely won't be enough to reverse the form.

The Great Nudie at 5/2 has winning form at this trip on soft ground and cannot be ignored, but she has been highly tried twice since her Naas win without threatening. Kamikaz Du Plessis carries the Gordon Elliott stamp but the trainer stats are ordinary right now at 10 from 94, and the form book shows that horse simply does not act on yielding to soft, beaten a combined 97 lengths in three chase starts on similar ground. Leave him alone.

Littlefoot won well last time, his form stacks up against the placed horses here, and 6/1 is a fair each-way price in what is only a seven-runner field. Back him each-way with two places at 1/4 odds.

5:42 — Killusty Handicap Hurdle (2m7f, 15 runners)

Selection: Rusty Harkness — 5/1 (BoyleSports), 9/2 (William Hill, Coral)

Fifteen runners in a marathon handicap hurdle on yielding ground is exactly the type of race where a lightly raced, unexposed horse gets a nice introduction off a workable mark. Rusty Harkness fits that profile to a tee. Three starts in, unbeaten in a handicap so far, showing promise at trips ranging from 2m to 2m7f on going described as testing and good to yielding. This trip should be right up his street.

De Bromhead's yard is ticking over at 6 from 58 over the last 14 days, which is respectable rather than red-hot, but Darragh O'Keeffe keeps the ride and that combination has been sharp this season. The Spotlight note flags him as a handicap debutant who could be on a workable mark, and at 5/1 in a wide-open 15-runner contest, the value is genuine.

Better Times is the obvious danger having won at Downpatrick last month over 2m6f on similar ground, but he is 6lb higher now and this is a significantly tougher race. Forceonmyown gets Jack Kennedy aboard from the Elliott yard but the trainer stats suggest the big guns are not quite loaded right now.

Rusty Harkness to win, getting on at 5/1 with BoyleSports before the market tightens.

6:42 — Fethard Beginners Chase (1m7½f)

Selection: Son Of Anarchy — 2/1 (Bet365), 15/8 (Coral)

This looks a straight fight between Son Of Anarchy and Pinot Gris, with the market reflecting exactly that. Pinot Gris holds the highest hurdles rating of the lot at 143, but the Spotlight note is key: no impact in three runs for the De Bromhead yard in hot hurdle handicaps, and beaten on his only previous chase start at Cork. The note also flags concern about soft ground, and yielding to soft at Clonmel today does not suit. He may well go close, but he carries questions.

Son Of Anarchy comes here with form figures of -24138 and the most recent runs suggest a horse learning his trade and improving. Gordon Elliott saddling Mark Walsh is a formidable combination for a beginners' chase. Walsh is simply one of the best jump jockeys in Ireland and does not take rides without confidence behind them. Elliott may be 10 from 94 in a fortnight but his strike rate in bumpers and beginners' events tends to outperform his overall numbers.

The 2/1 with Bet365 is the best price. Take it before it goes.

Today's NAP