August 27 / 18.45 Hexham

18.45

Good To Firm

Sterling Clift 60th Birthday Celebrations Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5254.59
  • 3m 0f 41y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Sterling Clift 60th Birthday Celebrations Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 1-P422 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Recorded his sixth chase win when scoring at Southwell (3m2f, good to soft) in March; mixed results since but he wasn't far off his best when runner-up at Cartmel in June and he ran into a major improver when a well-held second there (3m1f, good) last time; now 2lb lower than for his last success and he could have a big role to play.
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

15:47 Chepstow

Ali Star Bert

11st 9lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Shaun Harris

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

13:50 Lingfield

Ali Star Bert

10st 2lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Shaun Harris

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

17:35 Uttoxeter

Ali Star Bert

11st 5lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Shaun Harris

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

Form: 93-412 C

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Course winner who won by 8l at Market Rasen (3m, soft) on his penultimate run and was a strong-finishing second there (3m, good) 13 days later; as good as ever in those last two runs and he's a big player back at this track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Ribeye

12st 0lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Peter Atkinson

Two wins last season, the second off 3lb lower over C&D in October (good); hasn't been in quite such good form in 2026, but has had a break and can't be rule out.

14/1

6th

5

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 59y

Class 4

15:38 Sedgefield

Ribeye

11st 3lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Peter Atkinson

Five chase wins, the latest off 5lb lower at Hexham (3m, good) in October; creditable second to very progressive rival at Wetherby (3m, good) on next outing but form has slumped since (hurdling last time).

10/1

9

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:37 Market Rasen

Ribeye

11st 3lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Peter Atkinson

Stays at least this far and was in good form over fences for most of last year, but he has a bit to prove against younger rivals on his first start over hurdles in almost three years.

14/1

Form: 3F-5F9

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Generally struggled in ten hurdle runs in Ireland and he's had two falls in his last four handicaps; changed hands for £5,000 last month; still only a 5yo but he has plenty to prove now switched to chasing for new yard; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

14th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Sir Carnegie

11st 5lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

He can make mistakes and may be better over further, but he won two in a row last autumn (2m7f, good/good to soft) and was back on song when runner-up here (3m, good) three weeks ago in reapplied cheekpieces (retained since); good third here (3m, good to soft) yesterday; could be in the mix.

5/1

3rd

3

13th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:43 Perth

Sir Carnegie

11st 10lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Completed a double with win at Kelso (3m, good to soft; 11-4) last November; wasn't fluent - has been a theme - but bounced back to form in reapplied cheekpieces when chasing home Inis Oirr over C&D (good) three weeks ago; 2lb higher with James Bowen taking over in the saddle; likely candidate.

9/2

2nd

6

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

17:15 Perth

Sir Carnegie

10st 12lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

Won novice handicaps over this trip at Newcastle (good) and Kelso (good to soft) earlier in the season; not in quite such good form since but excuses for heavy defeat at Newcastle last time (bad mistake five out); not out of it.

10/1

Form: 2-2335

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
0-11 over hurdles but she's been placed in four of her last six starts, including when runner-up in a handicap here (2m7f) in May; won an Irish point in her youth and she's an interesting contender on this switch to fences; visor added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

24th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 5

16:47 Kelso

Killybegs Jet Lady

11st 5lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Winning Irish pointer; yet to score under rules but she is proving reliable and comes here after a good second of 13 in 3m handicap chase at Hexham 22 days ago; very much one to consider off an unchanged mark.

5/2

2nd

6

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Killybegs Jet Lady

11st 4lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Point winner; yet to win under rules, best of her three runs over fences when second to an in-form rival over C&D last August (good; Ribeye back in third); chance on that form but below par both runs since.

10/1

Form: /65526

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 3lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
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.
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

15:33 Sedgefield

Zoffalee

10st 5lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Mike Sowersby

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

17:15 Southwell

Zoffalee

11st 5lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Mike Sowersby

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

18:45 Hexham

Zoffalee

11st 3lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

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

Form: 16P6-5

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Responded well to tongue-tie when winning over hurdles at Ayr (2m4f, soft) in February; that was off today's mark but he's been disappointing since and was tailed off on chase debut at Cartmel last month; down the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

12

24th Apr 2026

Good

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

Upfordebate

10st 10lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Patrick Neville

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

3rd

8

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

15:52 Carlisle

Upfordebate

10st 8lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Patrick Neville

Perhaps in the grip of the assessor since the last of his four wins this term; Paddy Hanlon's 5lb claim may offer some help but this assignment looks difficult.

14/1

5th

2

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 59y

Class 4

15:38 Sedgefield

Upfordebate

11st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Neville

Made very good progress in second half of last year, with the last two of his four wins gained over C&D (soft; also suited by good); returned from ten-week break with very respectable effort in 0-130 grade at Carlisle (3m, good to soft) last month and might still be on the upgrade.

11/4

Form: 5-433P

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Unexposed over fences and was a rallying third in a C&D handicap (good to soft) in June; has possibilities on that form but he was pulled up at Cartmel last month and that took his overall record to 0-20.
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

14:41 Hexham

Iturgeon Du Breuil

10st 2lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Barry Murtagh

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

15:40 Sedgefield

Iturgeon Du Breuil

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Barry Murtagh

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

13:38 Newcastle

Iturgeon Du Breuil

10st 9lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Barry Murtagh

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

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ribeye

The Times:

Upfordebate

RP RATINGS:

Ribeye

POSTDATA:

Ribeye

Telegraph:

Ribeye

The Guardian:

Ribeye

Daily Mail:

Ribeye

D Express:

Ribeye

Daily Mirror:

Ribeye

The Star:

Ribeye

Daily Record:

Ribeye