November 28 / 13.20 Sedgefield

13.20

Soft

Neil ‘Rip’ Kirby Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 3f 188y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Neil ‘Rip’ Kirby Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 53-21 D

Last run: 189 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 6yo who won a 2m4f good-ground novice at Hexham in May and the runner-up has since completed a hat-trick (two handicaps); could be well handicapped and it's unlikely that softer ground will trouble him; the same connections had a welcome winner last week.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:30 Uttoxeter

Harper Valley

11st 13lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Took step back in right direction when respectable fourth at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) last month and is now 1lb below his last winning mark but still needs to build upon that recent effort here.

16/1

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:30 Uttoxeter

Harper Valley

11st 13lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Took step back in right direction when respectable fourth at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) last month and is now 1lb below his last winning mark but still needs to build upon that recent effort here.

16/1

100/30

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 2321-6 BF

Last run: 200 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Had excuses when a beaten favourite at Market Rasen (2m7f) in May when last seen; progressive prior to that in winning over 2m6f at Kelso (good; goes on soft) and she remains of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 3

16:39 Kelso

Hashtag Boum

11st 3lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Ruth Jefferson

Her first three chase starts yielded wins at Sedgefield (2m5f, good to soft) and Ayr (2m4f, soft); only third of four at Ayr (2m4f, soft) since but that may not be the limit of her ability; won here over hurdles and she's not ruled out.

6/1

3rd

3

21st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:05 Ayr

Hashtag Boum

10st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ruth Jefferson

Progressive over fences; won on Sedgefield debut (2m5f, good to soft) before career-best when scoring over C&D earlier this month (soft); runs off 7lb higher today; contender.

11/8

3rd

3

21st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:05 Ayr

Hashtag Boum

10st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ruth Jefferson

Progressive over fences; won on Sedgefield debut (2m5f, good to soft) before career-best when scoring over C&D earlier this month (soft); runs off 7lb higher today; contender.

11/8

Form: 444348 CD

Last run: 30 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Without a win since March 2022 but has accrued plenty of minor honours and it was always going to be tough last time at Aintree; suited by these smaller fields.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

19th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

14:50 Cartmel

Ashington

11st 3lb

J: Miss Becky Smith

T: Mark Walford

Won this race on good ground under Becky Smith a year ago and defends his crown from a good mark but recent Flat/hurdling form has been underwhelming and conditions are not in his favour today.

33/1

9th

10

(9)

5th Jul 2025

Soft

1m 3f 39y

Class 5

19:42 Carlisle

Ashington

10st 0lb

J: Miss Becky Smith

T: Mark Walford

Better known as a jumper and yet recent efforts in that scene haven't been great, and he was only midfield over C&D last month.

20/1

7th

5

29th Jun 2025

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

16:57 Uttoxeter

Ashington

11st 8lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Stuck on a losing run and finished last in two hurdle races before finishing only sixth off his low Flat mark 13 days ago; others much preferred.

25/1

Form: 318164 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Raced prominently and hung around for a good fourth when tried in this new headgear combination over 2m1f here 19 days ago (soft); won over this far at Perth in September and must have some chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

13th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Prince Nino

10st 3lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Dual C&D winner in 2023 and is considerably lower in the weights now; raced lazily, tailed off, in a division of this last year (good; 5-1); missing from action since so it's tough to know how he'll fare; market check advised.

25/1

8th

9

14th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

20:30 Perth

Prince Nino

10st 4lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Went close at Newcastle in January, but hasn't performed to the same level on his four runs since and his losing sequence continues.

20/1

Form: 5/8-26 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Ran a mighty race on his return from a mammoth absence when going close over C&D and probably produced a similar performance at Musselburgh last time as that was a Class 3; a 10yo now but has claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

28th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

13:20 Sedgefield

Theatre Legend

11st 11lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Chris Grant

Ran a mighty race on his return from a mammoth absence when going close over C&D and probably produced a similar performance at Musselburgh last time as that was a Class 3; a 10yo now but has claims.

13/2

6th

5

8th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 3

16:00 Musselburgh

Theatre Legend

11st 4lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Chris Grant

Ran a mighty race on his return from a mammoth absence when going close at Sedgefield (2m4f, good; off 4lb lower); back in trip in a loftier grade now and he'll need to back that up.

5/1

2nd

2

3rd Oct 2023

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

13:30 Sedgefield

Theatre Legend

12st 1lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Chris Grant

Two ordinary runs following wind surgery in March 2022; off for 508 days and plenty to prove.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: /225-0 BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won a novice hurdle in these colours for Dan Skelton and then twice runner-up in handicaps; stopped very quickly on chase debut at Warwick three weeks ago and now with Ben Haslam; hard to dismiss off a dangerous mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

(2)

26th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:50 Newbury

Hartur DOudairies

10st 10lb

J: Mr Simon Walker

T: Brian Ellison

Bumper/hurdles winner at around 2m; first switched to Flat in late July, racing over 1m initially before his staying-on sixth of 14 from the back on Flat handicap debut at York (soft; 33-1) 14 days ago; duly raised his game when stepped up to 2m here yesterday, making most and beating all except the easy winner; big player if he's in the same form today.

5/1

2nd

6

(3)

25th Oct 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

13:41 Newbury

Hartur DOudairies

9st 3lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Brian Ellison

Bumper/hurdles winner at around 2m; has had only five races on the Flat, with 1m looking inadequate on first four occasions and 1m2f the same with his staying-on sixth of 14 from the back on Flat handicap debut at York (soft; 33-1) 13 days ago; dropped 2lb and it's not hard to think that he will be a lot more potent this time with the much longer trip.

8/1

6th

17

(17)

12th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 2f 56y

Class 4

17:05 York

Hartur DOudairies

8st 9lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Brian Ellison

Bumper/hurdles winner at around 2m; only had four races on the Flat and a 1m has looked inadequate; however, even 1m2f might not be far enough for him.

25/1

Form: 956P-P

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Pulled up in both runs for this yard but he looks on a good mark given the strength of his French form and is one to note in the market.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

13th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 1f 109y

Class 4

15:08 Exeter

Polisud

10st 13lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Daisy Hitchins

Won a handicap hurdle for Micky Hammond, whom he left for £4,000; respectable first run for this yard at Lingfield (2m hurdle, soft) but he may still be a shade too high in the weights on this belated return to fences (won in France).

7/2

4

13th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 1f 109y

Class 4

15:08 Exeter

Polisud

10st 13lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Daisy Hitchins

Won a handicap hurdle for Micky Hammond, whom he left for £4,000; respectable first run for this yard at Lingfield (2m hurdle, soft) but he may still be a shade too high in the weights on this belated return to fences (won in France).

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.00
Straight Forecast £12.69
Trifecta £24.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Harper Valley

TOPSPEED:

Hashtag Boum

RP RATINGS:

Ashington

Telegraph:

Hartur D'Oudairies

Daily Mirror:

Theatre Legend

The Times:

Harper Valley

The Guardian:

Harper Valley

Daily Mail:

Harper Valley

D Express:

Harper Valley

The Sun:

Harper Valley

Daily Record:

Harper Valley

The Star:

Hashtag Boum

POSTDATA:

Ashington