2:24 Clonmel
The 2:24 at Clonmel is a 2m3f145y claiming hurdle on good ground featuring a field of 15. Several smart performers line up, headed by the KTB top-rated Rocky's Howya on a Fit score of 68, with Plontier, Eclipse Chaser and Holy Joe all closely behind on 66, 63 and 63 respectively. The KTB numbers point to a competitive heat where course form, trip suitability and yard record at the venue will all play their part.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with high confidence, as two or more habitual front-runners are present. Rocky's Howya and Marlpark both tend to make the running or race prominently, which should ensure an honest gallop that has the potential to collapse late. That shape would favour the numerous hold-up performers in the field, making the ability to produce a finishing effort off a strong pace the key question.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Rocky's Howya KTB Selection68/100
Rocky's Howya is the KTB selection. A smart performer, he has won on his only previous visit to Clonmel. He possesses a solid record on good ground and has won at today's trip in the past, though he arrives in patchy form after a string of wins and losses. The yard has a 12% strike rate at Clonmel with an A/E of 0.85 from 131 runs, which adds a note of caution. Kevin Healy takes the ride with a 50% strike rate at the track from only four rides and an A/E of 3.21. A front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace, he will be right up there from the start in a race where the pace is expected to be strong.
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2Plontier66/100
Plontier is rated a smart performer who has shown ability on good ground, where he has been placed once from seven starts without winning. He arrives with strong course connections through the yard, which maintains a 17% strike rate at Clonmel with an A/E of 1.4 from 114 runs. Dropping back in trip today after his last run over further, he has never won at this distance. Danny Power claims 7 lb but has a 0% strike rate at the track from four rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is well suited to the anticipated strong pace that could collapse in the later stages.
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3Eclipse Chaser63/100
Eclipse Chaser is a smart performer on his day but has been struggling for form lately, with two pulled-up efforts in his last three starts. He drops back in trip today having failed to make the frame in three previous attempts at this distance, while his record on good ground is modest from just two runs. The trainer has an 8% strike rate at Clonmel with an A/E of 0.93 from 13 runs. Ricky Doyle takes the mount with a 10% strike rate at the venue from 108 rides and an A/E of 1.02. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he could be suited if the strong pace does indeed collapse.
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4Holy Joe63/100
Holy Joe is a smart performer who has already won over this trip and on this ground. He boasts a perfect record at Clonmel from his one start here and drops back in distance after his last run. The yard has a solid 19% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 0.96 from 515 runs, which adds further confidence. Jack Kennedy rides with a 19% strike rate at Clonmel from 135 rides and an A/E of 0.88. Usually held up and producing his effort late with medium confidence, he is well positioned to benefit if the race's strong pace collapses late on.
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5Jackson Lamb61/100
Jackson Lamb is a smart performer who has been a bit in and out of late with form figures of P75250. He drops back in trip today having failed to land a blow over this distance on his only previous attempt. The trainer operates at a 7% strike rate from 112 runs at Clonmel with an A/E of 0.7, while the jockey is making his first appearance at the track. Alex Harvey partners him. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he could come into play if the strong pace takes its toll on those up front.
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6Shanroe56/100
Shanroe is a smart 12-year-old with a solid record on good ground, including three wins from eight starts. He steps up in trip today having failed to place in three previous attempts at this distance and showed little spark on his most recent runs. The yard has a modest 9% strike rate from 32 runs at Clonmel while the horse himself finished 11th on his only previous visit here.
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7Rich Belief55/100
Rich Belief is a smart performer who has run well here without winning, finishing placed on two of three visits to Clonmel. He steps up in trip today having won once from three starts at this distance, though his recent form has been a bit mixed. The trainer operates at a 9% strike rate from 32 runs at the track.
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8Allo Al Khawaneej54/100
Allo Al Khawaneej is a smart performer who arrives in solid recent form having finished third in a decent handicap at Limerick last time. He drops back in trip today to a distance he has never tried, which asks a fresh question of him. The trainer has a 10% strike rate from 220 runs at Clonmel.
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9Black Heather54/100
Black Heather is a smart performer on the balance of her ratings and race history yet has looked only fair at best in recent starts. She has shown some ability on good ground but failed to finish last time and now steps up in trip as an unknown. The trainer has a solid 13% strike rate at Clonmel from a big sample while the 7 lb claimer is making her debut at the track.
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10Migdam51/100
Migdam is a smart performer who has won twice on good ground from nine starts and arrives in reasonable form after two placed efforts this season. He steps up in trip today for the first time which asks a fresh question of him while the yard has yet to land a winner from 21 runners at Clonmel. First appearance at the track carries no strong pointers either way.
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11Tullyveery Lad49/100
Tullyveery Lad is a useful performer who has shown enough at this track to suggest he can be competitive again, finishing fourth here last time out. He drops back in trip having won over this distance in the past though he has been out of form for much of this year. The trainer has a modest record at Clonmel.
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12Warm In Gorey49/100
Warm In Gorey is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form without winning lately. He has placed once from three runs at Clonmel and steps up in trip today having won twice at this distance in the past though his record on good ground is modest with just one win from 19 starts. The trainer's modest 5% strike rate from 501 runs at the track adds a note of caution.
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13Andys Flame48/100
Andys Flame is a useful performer who has won over today's trip in the past but arrives in modest recent form with three poor efforts after a better third at Down Royal. He has only run once at Clonmel and finished seventh, while the trainer's 7% strike rate from 112 runs at the track is modest. First-time headgear is now applied on good ground where he has shown some ability.
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14Hello Johnjoe47/100
Hello Johnjoe is a fair performer who has shown some ability at this track with a placed effort from his only visit. He has failed to complete in three of his last five starts and is 0-5 on good ground, though he has placed once at today's trip. First-time headgear is now fitted as he steps back up in distance.
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15Marlpark45/100
Marlpark is a fair performer with a win from six runs at Clonmel but his recent form of 0-4PFP is poor and he has failed to place in six runs on good ground. The step back up to this trip poses a fresh question having shown little in two previous attempts at the distance. The trainer has a 9% strike rate from 263 runs here while the jockey has limited experience at the track.
KTB verdict
Rocky's Howya is the KTB selection. A smart performer who has won on his only previous visit to Clonmel, he possesses a solid record on good ground and has won at today's trip in the past. Although he arrives in patchy form after a string of wins and losses, the yard's record here and the presence of a strong pace that should suit his front-running style keep him at the head of affairs. Holy Joe and Plontier represent the main dangers, the former boasting a perfect record at the track and the latter well suited to a race that could collapse late. Eclipse Chaser and Jackson Lamb cannot be entirely ruled out if the pace falls apart as expected.
KTB Selection Rocky's Howya
This is the narrative read of the 2:24 Clonmel. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Clonmel racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Clonmel results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has won on its only previous visit to Clonmel?
Rocky's Howya.
How many front-runners are in the field and what does that mean for the pace?
Two or more habitual front-runners are present, making a strong pace likely that could collapse late and favour hold-up horses.
Which runner is dropping back in trip after racing over further on its most recent start?
Plontier.
Which horse is fitted with first-time headgear?
Andys Flame and Hello Johnjoe.
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at Clonmel among those with the largest sample of runners?
Gordon Elliott with a 19% strike rate from 515 runs.
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