December 22 / 13.40 Uttoxeter

13.40

Heavy

Ralph Mitchell 60th Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4858.52
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Ralph Mitchell 60th Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 412-23 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Won four times over hurdles in early part of last season and, following a layoff, went close on chasing debut at Ludlow (2m4f, good) in October; also ran well when tried over 3m last month and seems versatile regarding ground; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

14th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 3

15:51 Market Rasen

Sure Touch

12st 0lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Olly Murphy

Hasn't been running well for a while now, since winning the Summer Plate over C&D in July 2024; too well handicapped to dismiss with confidence, though, and a tongue-tie belatedly returns.

11/2

5th

2

5th Sep 2025

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 2

15:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Sure Touch

12st 0lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Olly Murphy

Won last year's Summer Plate at Market Rasen after an absence so his 99-day break was no excuse when never counting in that race in mid-July; the cheekpieces tried there are swiftly removed but he's not been running great for a while now.

6/1

11/10

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 57-341 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Raced mainly at around 2m but returned to form with clearcut success when upped to 2m4f at Lingfield (good to soft) 11 days ago and is now 6-20 over fences; escapes a penalty here (due a 5lb rise) and ought to cope with the slower ground; obvious contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

22nd Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

13:40 Uttoxeter

Desque De LIsle

11st 2lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Raced mainly at around 2m but returned to form with clearcut success when upped to 2m4f at Lingfield (good to soft) 11 days ago and is now 6-20 over fences; escapes a penalty here (due a 5lb rise) and ought to cope with the slower ground; obvious contender.

11/10

1st

4

11th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:35 Lingfield

Desque De LIsle

11st 3lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Yard had good record with chasers here in recent years and won today's race in 2021 but this one rarely runs beyond 2m and well below his best in two runs this season; has stamina to prove on first 2m4f run.

7/2

4th

5

27th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 212y

Class 3

14:50 Ludlow

Desque De LIsle

10st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

10yo who is not easy to predict but he shaped as though he needed the run at Huntingdon on his recent return and he's 2-3 over C&D, including a win in this race (off 3lb higher) last year; looks interesting back at this track and he's in the mix for in-form yard.

11/4

OUR TIP

Form: 5112-P D

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
In excellent form towards end of last season, winning at Chepstow (2m3f, good) and Ascot (2m5f, good to soft); also effective on soft ground (unraced on heavy) but was pulled up last month, after a break, and current mark probably demands a career best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:19 Newton Abbot

Eaton Collina

11st 1lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

headed after 3rd, led, not fluent 4th, soon lost ground, in rear when weakened after 10th

8/1

11

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:19 Newton Abbot

Eaton Collina

11st 1lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

headed after 3rd, led, not fluent 4th, soon lost ground, in rear when weakened after 10th

8/1

5th

5

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

14:05 Haydock

Eaton Collina

11st 4lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Kerry Lee

Completed a Wetherby double (2m3f, soft) last February and he's back down to his last winning mark; hasn't hit the same heights this season but ran okay when third at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) last month and he now contests his first veterans' chase; could be involved.

7/2

Form: 105-5

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Went close in soft-ground Irish point in spring 2022 and created pretty good impression when easily winning Ffos Las novice hurdle (2m, soft) on rules debut the following November; yet to build on that performance but wasn't beaten far on recent seasonal/handicap hurdle debut and connections are evidently keen to launch his chasing career; tongue-tie fitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

14:37 Wetherby

Rath Gaul Hill

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Samuel Drinkwater

He's now 5lb lower than when winning at Newbury (2m, soft) last February; however, this season's form has been patchy and today's trip may stretch him; major turnaround needed with blinkers replacing cheekpieces.

7/2

4th

5

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:08 Newbury

Rath Gaul Hill

11st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Returning from an absence when edging home in this 12 months ago off 2lb higher; his penultimate effort (here in first-time cheekpieces) was respectable and it's perhaps best to forget Sandown last time when his best form has been on left-handed tracks; respected.

12/1

10

31st Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 2

14:02 Sandown

Rath Gaul Hill

10st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Raced mainly on left-handed tracks; gained two of his three chase wins at Newbury; ran respectably with cheekpieces added there last time; capable of being involved but has a question mark over the course.

9/1

Form: 524-74

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Failed to build upon satisfactory seasonal/stable debut when well-held fourth at Lingfield (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago but is very well suited by heavy ground and has become very well handicapped; might be the answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:45 Uttoxeter

Thor De Cerisy

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Neil Mulholland

raced in last but in touch with leaders, outpaced after 4 out, weakened 2 out

8/1

4th

3

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:45 Uttoxeter

Thor De Cerisy

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Neil Mulholland

raced in last but in touch with leaders, outpaced after 4 out, weakened 2 out

8/1

3rd

4

5th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

14:15 Chepstow

Thor De Cerisy

11st 3lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Neil Mulholland

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, headway and went second before 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon outpaced, not fluent last, weakened and lost second run-in

7/1

Non-runners

Morning Spirit

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.30
Straight Forecast £14.07
Trifecta £27.70

Selections

POSTDATA:

Sure Touch

Daily Mail:

Desque De L'Isle

RP RATINGS:

Morning Spirit

SPOTLIGHT:

Thor De Cerisy

D Express:

Rath Gaul Hill

TOPSPEED:

Eaton Collina

Telegraph:

Sure Touch

The Guardian:

Sure Touch

The Sun:

Sure Touch

Daily Mirror:

Morning Spirit

The Times:

Thor De Cerisy

The Star:

Desque De L'Isle

Daily Record:

Desque De L'Isle