18.45
Good To FirmSterling Clift 60th Birthday Celebrations Handicap Chase
- Prize money: £5254.59
- 3m 0f 41y
- Class 5
- 7 runners
Runners: 7 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
4/1
Form: 1-P422 D
Last run: 39 days
W: 12st 0lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 100
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 8 |
27th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 7f 136y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
Ended 2025 with two wins at Southwell (3m, soft/good to soft), looking in particularly good nick on latter occasion; struggled from just out of the weights in last week's Surrey National at Lingfield but enters calculations in this easier race. |
14/1 |
|
15 |
19th Jan 2026 Soft 3m 4f 178y Class 3 |
10st 2lb |
Ended 2025 with two wins at Southwell (3m, soft/good to soft); contests this much stronger race from 3lb out of the weights but he looked in particularly good nick on his latest outing and this trip should be fine. |
16/1 |
|
4th 9 |
11th Sep 2025 Good 3m 0f 10y Class 4 |
11st 5lb |
The last of six chase wins was at Southwell (3m2f, good to soft) in March; very mixed since then and wouldn't be the percentage call. |
25/1 |
5/2
Form: 93-412 C
Last run: 39 days
W: 11st 11lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 97
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 2 |
26th Sep 2026 Good 2m 7f 191y Class 5 |
11st 13lb |
Dual C&D winner who has finished fourth and runner-up behind Huckleberry Sting here on his two most recent starts, latest over 2m6f when always fighting a losing battle; this step back up in trip is more in his favour and he's better off at the weights; respected. |
7/2 |
|
2nd 3 |
15th Aug 2026 Good 2m 5f 89y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
Dual course winner but was behind Huckleberry Sting last time and he wants further ideally. |
7/2 |
|
4th 3 |
5th Jul 2026 Good 2m 7f 191y Class 5 |
11st 6lb |
Two wins last season included this race but he hasn't been in such good form this year; an 11yo now. |
20/1 |
5/1
Form: 3F-5F9
Last run: 43 days
W: 11st 4lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 90
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 5 |
4th Oct 2026 Good 3m 2f 39y Class 4 |
11st 1lb |
6yo who made it three wins for the season when scoring at Perth (3m, good) last month; respectable third there (3m, good) since; he was 6l behind Upfordebate last time but is 7lb better off today and this course winner could be thereabouts. |
3/1 |
|
3rd 5 |
24th Sep 2026 Good 2m 7f 180y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
Returned to positive tactics here 17 days ago and stuck on well to beat a reliable yardstick by 5l; couldn't grumble about the 4lb rise. |
5/2 |
Form: 2-2335
Last run: 42 days
W: 11st 4lb
8 yo Mare
OR: 90
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 |
2nd Oct 2026 Good 2m 7f 63y Class 5 |
11st 1lb |
Not wholly convincing as a chaser over the past year, even in victory at Kelso (2m7f, good); backed out of things some way out returned to hurdles at Cartmel latest, and others convince more just now. |
12/1 |
|
11th 6 |
29th Aug 2026 Good 3m 1f 83y Class 5 |
11st 5lb |
Wide-margin chase winner at Kelso (2m7f, good) in May, but pulled up after jumping poorly on next outing and now back hurdling; has something to prove but was placed off today's mark here (2m6f, soft) last summer. |
12/1 |
|
2 |
13th Jun 2026 Good 3m 0f 41y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
Had two of these behind (including Passengerontheship, one of three next-time winners in the race) when second over C&D in early May (good); easy Kelso success since was the form equal of that effort, if too full of early errors for maximum comfort; career-high mark now. |
7/4 |
8/1
Form: /65526
Last run: 11 days
W: 11st 3lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 89
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 |
19th Oct 2025 Good 3m 2f 59y Class 4 |
10st 5lb |
Ran okay over hurdles last time but hasn't won a race since 2019 and he's had loads of chances over fences (0-23); capable of going well but not one for maximum faith. |
14/1 |
|
4 |
2nd Oct 2025 Good 3m 0f 60y Class 5 |
11st 5lb |
Soundly beaten in two chases in August and remains without a win since summer 2019; reverts to hurdling on a workable mark and runs this track well but is probably not the percentage call. |
10/1 |
|
5 |
27th Aug 2025 Good To Firm 3m 0f 41y Class 5 |
11st 3lb |
Won three times over hurdles in Ireland; 0-22 over fences and was tailed off at Market Rasen (2m5f) 11 days ago but he was a good second at Uttoxeter (3m2f, good) on his penultimate run; that form puts him in the picture and he's not ruled out back up in trip. |
8/1 |
6/1
Form: 16P6-5
Last run: 37 days
W: 11st 0lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 86
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 |
4th Oct 2026 Good 3m 2f 39y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
Four chase wins in the second half of last year (3m/3m2f) and he regained the winning thread at Perth (3m, good) ten days ago following a break; had nearly 4l to spare and he's much respected off 6lb higher here. |
13/8 |
|
1st 7 |
24th Sep 2026 Good 2m 7f 180y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
Won four times over fences last season from 3m to 3m2f, the second win coming in this race; the handicapper soon got hold him but a couple of his runs this year were fairly encouraging; back from a break, he could easily run well. |
6/1 |
|
8th 12 |
24th Apr 2026 Good 3m 6f 121y Class 3 |
10st 10lb |
Went chasing last summer and he's won four times from 3m to 3m2f; now high in the ratings but still ran very well from the front at Carlisle last month (3m); unproven over this far and he does race up with the pace. |
8/1 |
16/1
Form: 5-433P
Last run: 39 days
W: 10st 2lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 71
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11 |
25th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 41y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
Still a maiden and he underwent wind surgery before pulled up in 3m2f Sedgefield handicap chase in January; not one to rely on. |
25/1 |
|
11 |
25th Jan 2026 Good To Soft 3m 2f 59y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
0-24 under all codes; gave fairly good account of himself when fourth over C&D (soft; beaten about 16l) last month but is effectively 4lb higher from further out of the weights today and needs subsequent wind operation to have made a difference. |
33/1 |
|
6 |
30th Oct 2025 Good To Firm 2m 7f 91y Class 5 |
10st 9lb |
0-19; three good runs over fences at Hexham this season, last time finishing fourth over 3m; may find a couple too good. |
14/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £11.50 |
| Straight Forecast | £11.43 |
| Trifecta | £44.80 |