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

2nd

3

15th Aug 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

19:34 Market Rasen

Ribeye

11st 10lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Peter Atkinson

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

16:35 Market Rasen

Ribeye

11st 6lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Peter Atkinson

Two wins last season included this race but he hasn't been in such good form this year; an 11yo now.

20/1

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

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

5th

1

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Firm

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

14:30 Newton Abbot

Sir Carnegie

12st 0lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

In fine form after blinkers were added in early summer, winning at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) and Hexham (3m, good), before disappointing at Market Rasen last month when reportedly unsuited by the track; retains chase potential and could prove up to this mark if bouncing back.

8/1

6th

4

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

16:40 Market Rasen

Sir Carnegie

11st 7lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

6yo who made it 4-10 over fences when completing a double with his late thrust at Hexham (3m, good) last month; up 3lb but he's been as good as ever in his last two starts and he's strong stayer as this trip; key player.

5/2

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

11th

6

29th Aug 2026

Good

3m 1f 83y

Class 5

15:15 Cartmel

Killybegs Jet Lady

11st 5lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

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

16:42 Hexham

Killybegs Jet Lady

11st 10lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

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

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

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