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

Haydock

15:45

Date 2026-01-17

Distance 2m67y

Class Class 3

Going Good To Soft

Type Chase

Surface Turf

Age Band 5yo+

Prize £9,770

Weather Overcast

Temp 5.2°C

Wind 4mph NE

Rain 95%

Runners (10)

EW Terms: 3 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
2	Escapeandevade Bay J:Harry Reed T:Harry Derham	J:Harry Reed T:Harry Derham	168	p	22-221	130	134	123	28d	—	—	+3	27.3	0.63/1	5/2 29%
Nicely clear with the runner-up when winning over C&D last month; respected up 5lb
7	Koukeo Bay J:Jonjo O'Neill Jr T:Jonjo & A J O'Neill	J:Jonjo O'Neill Jr T:Jonjo & A J O'Neill	155	—	6P18-1	117	138	126	16d	—	—	+12	32.9	0.88/1	7/2 22%
Impressive on chase debut on New Year's Day and could take an 8lb rise in his stride
8	Kykorock Bay J:Tristan Durrell T:Dan Skelton	J:Tristan Durrell T:Dan Skelton	151	h	8-8311	113	135	118	22d	—	—	0	22.4	0.88/1	7/2 22%
2-2 over fences and could still be well treated for his top yard
10	Willie Shake Hands Bay J:Callum Bewley T:Sam England	J:Callum Bewley T:Sam England	148	t	-12343	110	135	125	35d	—	—	+13	27	1.50/1	6/1 14%
Has done well since being switched to fences but career-best needed now back up in grade
3	Hardy Du Seuil Bay J:Isabelle Ryder(7) T:Jamie Snowden	J:Isabelle Ryder(7) T:Jamie Snowden	165	p	03-310	127	134	-	28d	—	—	+13	21.5	2.50/1	10/1 9%
6	Mr Grey Sky Grey J:Tom Bellamy T:Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls	J:Tom Bellamy T:Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls	156	p	3/531-	118	134	105	326d	—	—	+16	20.4	5.00/1	20/1 5%
12yo who is racing for first time since last February, but won back then and not ruled out
9	Grey Diamond Bay J:Theo Gillard T:Donald McCain	J:Theo Gillard T:Donald McCain	149	ht	852-63	111	137	113	49d	—	—	+11	16.7	4.50/1	18/1 5%
Encouraging third at Bangor following a break but this 12yo is winless since March 2023
4	Palamon Chestnut J:Liam Harrison T:Dan Skelton	J:Liam Harrison T:Dan Skelton	164	—	20-2U6	126	127	97	83d	—	—	+16	20.3	5.50/1	22/1 4%
Promising chase debut, then jumping held him back; first run for Dan Skelton; watch market
1	Classic Maestro Bay J:Sean Quinlan T:Jennie Candlish	J:Sean Quinlan T:Jennie Candlish	170	p	3413-U	132	134	118	68d	—	—	+17	21.6	5.50/1	22/1 4%
C&D winner but race-fitness is a query and his best form has come on soft/heavy ground
5	Stormin Crossgales Bay J:Charlie Deutsch T:Max Young	J:Charlie Deutsch T:Max Young	156	—	31-PPU	118	133	-	31d	—	—	+16	17.3	37.50/1	150/1 1%
Four chase wins last term but plenty to prove on this season's evidence

Horse	bet365	William Hill	Boyle Sports	Ladbrokes	Unibet
Escapeandevade	5/2	5/2	5/2	5/2	5/2
Koukeo	10/3	10/3	10/3	10/3	7/2
Kykorock	7/2	7/2	7/2	7/2	7/2
Willie Shake Hands	11/2	11/2	11/2	11/2	6/1
Hardy Du Seuil	9/1	10/1	10/1	17/2	10/1
Mr Grey Sky	20/1	18/1	18/1	18/1	18/1
Grey Diamond	18/1	16/1	16/1	16/1	16/1
Palamon	22/1	20/1	22/1	20/1	22/1
Classic Maestro	22/1	22/1	22/1	20/1	22/1
Stormin Crossgales	150/1	125/1	125/1	100/1	125/1

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Koukeo

32.9

OR: 16.8 Form: 10 Odds: 6.2

7/2

2nd

Escapeandevade

27.3

OR: 20 Form: 0 Odds: 7.3

5/2

3rd

Willie Shake Hands

OR: 15 Form: 8 Odds: 4

6/1

Kykorock

22.4

OR: 15.8 Form: 0 Odds: 6.7

7/2

Classic Maestro

21.6

OR: 20.5 Form: 0 Odds: 1.1

22/1

Hardy Du Seuil

21.5

OR: 19.3 Form: 0 Odds: 2.2

10/1

Mr Grey Sky

20.4

OR: 17 Form: 2.1 Odds: 1.3

20/1

Palamon

20.3

OR: 19 Form: 0 Odds: 1.3

22/1

Stormin Crossgales

17.3

OR: 17 Form: 0 Odds: 0.3

150/1

Grey Diamond

16.7

OR: 15.3 Form: 0 Odds: 1.5

18/1

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Classic Maestro	132	134	118
Escapeandevade	130	134	123
Hardy Du Seuil	127	134	—
Palamon	126	127	97
Mr Grey Sky	118	134	105
Stormin Crossgales	118	133	—
Koukeo	117	138	126
Kykorock	113	135	118
Grey Diamond	111	137	113
Willie Shake Hands	110	135	125

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Koukeo	16d ago	Fit
Kykorock	22d ago	Fit
Escapeandevade	28d ago	Fit
Hardy Du Seuil	28d ago	Fit
Stormin Crossgales	31d ago	Fit
Willie Shake Hands	35d ago	Fit
Grey Diamond	49d ago	Fresh
Classic Maestro	68d ago	Fresh
Palamon	83d ago	Fresh
Mr Grey Sky	326d ago	Long break