15:45 Haydock

Saturday 17 January 2026

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Sky Bet, For The Fans Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 4m 4.41s

Classic Maestro^p⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 132| CD

25/1

Enjoyed highly productive campaign last term, readily bagging fourth success (cheekpieces fitted) of that season in a 5-runner handicap chase at Leicester (2m, heavy). Unseated early on seasonal reappearance at Carlisle, though, and a clear career-best will be needed if he's to bag this prize.

Form: 13413-U

Escapeandevade^p²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Reed| T: Harry Derham| OR: 130| CD

5/2

Generally below par for James Ewart last term but mark eased as a result and firmly back on track for new yard this season, runner-up at Worcester and over this C&D prior to resuming winning ways back here last month. Remains on a workable mark up 5 lb and he's a major player once more.

Form: 622-221

Hardy Du Seuil^p²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Isabelle Ryder⁽⁷⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 127| D

15/2

Hit the target in a Windsor handicap hurdle on his seasonal reappearance before finding it all too much in a valuable contest at Ascot. Not seen out in this sphere since pulled up in the Grand Annual at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival and he's probably worth taking on.

Form: 503-310

Palamon⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Liam Harrison| T: D Skelton| OR: 126WS

22/1

Fairly useful hurdler and positive start over fences when runner-up at Wexford last summer. Wasn't at his best at the same course on latest start in October but one to note in the betting on debut for new yard (also represented here by Kykorock) on the back of a wind op.

Form: P20-2F6

Stormin Crossgales³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: M Young| OR: 118| D

125/1

Three-time chase winner for the Pogsons last season but made a very low-key start for this yard last summer and didn't get very far back from a break at Ludlow.

Form: P31-PPU

Mr Grey Sky^p³²⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 118| CD

18/1

Back-to-back winner of handicap chases in November 2023 and bagged another at Leicester (2m, heavy) on latest start last February. 2 lb nudge fair enough but this is a stronger race.

Form: P43/531-

Koukeo¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 117| D

9/4

Exeter hurdles winner last spring and showed improved form in making a successful debut in this sphere at Windsor (16.2f, good) on New Year's Day. 8 lb rise looks manageable, particularly given his scope for improvement, and this 6-y-o is high on the shortlist.

Form: 26P18-1

Kykorock^h²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton| OR: 113| D

11/2

Comfortable winner of sole outing in points and predictably left low-key hurdles form well behind when making a successful chase debut at Warwick in November. Comfortably followed up off 6 lb higher at Market Rasen (17.2f, good) on Boxing Day and a further 7 lb rise may not stop him.

Form: 68-8311

Grey Diamond^h,t⁴⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-9| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 111| CD

20/1

It's now 15 runs since his last win in 2023 but he performed with credit when third in a 7-runner Bangor handicap (17.4f, heavy) on return in November. Down another 2 lb and while others make more appeal for win purposes, he's certainly not without each-way hope.

Form: 3852-63

Willie Shake Hands^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Callum Bewley| T: S England| OR: 110| D

7/1

Off the mark over fences at Hexham last spring and has largely acquitted himself well in defeat since, good third back from a break at Doncaster (16.4f, good to soft). Solid each-way chance off an unchanged mark.

Form: 3-12343

Forecasts

Koukeo (9/4), Escapeandevade (5/2), Kykorock (11/2), Willie Shake Hands (7/1), Hardy Du Seuil (15/2), Mr Grey Sky (18/1), Grey Diamond (20/1), Palamon (22/1), Classic Maestro (25/1), Stormin Crossgales (125/1)

There has been much to like about KYKOROCK's transition to fences, with the 6-y-o again winning with more in hand than the margin of victory suggests when making it 2-2 in this sphere at Market Rasen. He remains open to improvement and a 7 lb rise may not be enough to prevent him from completing the hat-trick, for all that Koukeo did the job well on his first run over fences at Windsor and is greatly respected. Also high on the list is Escapeandevade, who scored over this C&D last month.