Domestic action returns with a jumping card at Clonmel Irish racing returns following a three-day break with an eight-race jumps card at Clonmel and the action gets underway at 2.42pm. Willie Mullins is on course to win the National Hunt trainer’s championship for an 18th successive year and 19th in total and has a number of obvious chances of adding to his tally of 176 domestic winners and over €4.1m in prizemoney — in excess of €660,000 ahead of Gordon Elliott. The Closutton maestro is doubly represented in the Ballymacarbry Beginners Chase with Rath Gaul Boy and Lombron heading the market. Point-to-point winner Rath Gaul Boy has scored three times under Rules and was making a belated seasonal reappearance when placed on his debut over fences at Punchestown last month. The lightly raced eight-year-old is the mount of Paul Townend while stablemate Lombron showed a similar level of form over hurdles and probably rates the chief threat. The Turgeon gelding was a creditable fourth to Lecky Watson on his chasing debut at Naas before beating all bar Harry Des Ongrais at Gowran last month. Doctor Steinberg looks set to go off at odds-on for the Mullins team in the Next Race Meeting April 17th (Pro/Am) Flat Race. The son of Doctor Dino has not been seen since finishing third to stable-companion Kopek Des Bordes on debut in the valuable Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper at Fairyhouse last Easter. The going at Clonmel is currently described as good to yielding, yielding in places. The weather forecast is dry and breezy with rain developing later in the afternoon.
