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

Pos	No.	Dr	Horse	Form	Jockey / Trainer	Age	Wgt	Best decimal odds
6th	1	—	Classic Maestro (G) P 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 reap…	U62P31-	Sean Quinlan J Candlish	8	77.1kg	26 25/1
2nd	2	—	Escapeandevade (G) P 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 bac…	2212P2	Harry Reed Harry Derham	10	76.2kg	3.50 5/2
4th	3	—	Hardy Du Seuil (G) P 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…	310423	Isabelle Ryder Jamie Snowden	9	74.8kg	8.50 15/2
9th	4	—	Palamon (G) 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 fo…	645163-	Liam Harrison D Skelton	6	74.4kg	23 22/1
—	5	—	Stormin Crossgales (G) Pulled Up 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.	1/PPUPP-	Charlie Deutsch M Young	9	70.8kg	126 125/1
7th	6	—	Mr Grey Sky (G) P 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.	43/531-7	Thomas Bellamy K Bailey & M Nicholls	12	70.8kg	19 18/1
1st	7	—	Koukeo (G) FAV 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 s…	8-11375	Jonjo O'Neill Jr. J & A O'Neill	6	70.3kg	3.25 9/4
3rd	8	—	Kykorock (G) H 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 …	8-83113	Tristan Durrell D Skelton	6	68.5kg	6.50 11/2
8th	9	—	Grey Diamond (G) HT 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 ap…	852-638	Theo Gillard D McCain Jnr	12	67.6kg	21 20/1
5th	10	—	Willie Shake Hands (G) T 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 un…	123435	Callum Bewley S England	7	67.1kg	8 7/1

Betting forecast: 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)