December 23 / 14.40 Haydock

14.40

Heavy

Betfred Hot Shots Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 0f 67y
  • Class 3
  • 4 runners
RTV
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Betfred Hot Shots Handicap Chase

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75

Form: 42-233 D BF

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Sole chase win came over this far on heavy at Ayr last season; 5lb higher but recent signs suggest that he remains on a fair mark and a steady gallop was probably no help when beaten about 6l at Wetherby last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

14:07 Ayr

Netywell

12st 0lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Regressive 9yo who is sliding down the weights; has two wins over C&D and has won off 9lb higher so cannot be discounted.

2/1

4th

2

29th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

15:43 Ayr

Netywell

11st 13lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

C&D winner who is well handicapped on form as recent as last March and today's drop back in grade could help; however, his performances have been patchy this season and he needs to get back on track.

20/1

Form: 436312 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Irish challenger; his second win over fences came in a Killarney handicap over this sort of trip in October and better again the following month when a clear second at Down Royal; ground/trip fine and he's pretty much at the top of his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:38 Wexford

Bythesametoken

10st 4lb

J: John Shinnick

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Winner here over hurdles and third chase win came in 2m2f Listowel handicap chase last September (off 116) after more than a year's absence; another good comeback run at Haydock in February, not so good at Kelso a fortnight later over shorter trip; this probably the limit of his stamina.

10/1

5th

4

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

13:10 Kelso

Bythesametoken

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Ross O’Sullivan

12yo who has returned to his best this season, defying an absence to win at Listowel (2m1f, yielding to soft) in September before solid third at Haydock (2m4f, soft) a fortnight ago; the drop back in trip may well be a positive and he could be thereabouts.

7/1

3rd

4

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:28 Haydock

Bythesametoken

11st 6lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Made light of a 13-month absence when landing 2m1f handicap chase at Listowel in September; 11lb higher today but that form worked out well so this Irish challenger can't be totally dismissed after another layoff.

5/1

Form: 412-41 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 12st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
His two market rivals flopped badly when he came home a 20l winner over C&D (soft) four weeks ago but he looked a happy horse that day and an 8lb rise could have been worse; Tristan Durrell takes off 5lb of that and this 8yo still has low mileage.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

28th Oct 2025

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 3

15:28 Ffos Las

Real Stone

11st 13lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Has a rather mixed record over last couple of years but reportedly benefited from positive front-running ride when causing 33-1 surprise at Wetherby in February and is only 2lb higher here; a possible if ready to roll after five-month break.

8/1

4

28th Oct 2025

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 3

15:28 Ffos Las

Real Stone

11st 13lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Has a rather mixed record over last couple of years but reportedly benefited from positive front-running ride when causing 33-1 surprise at Wetherby in February and is only 2lb higher here; a possible if ready to roll after five-month break.

8/1

9

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 2

14:05 Fontwell

Real Stone

11st 1lb

T: Dan Skelton

OUR TIP

Form: 6P-264 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
The last of his four wins over fences was off 3lb higher and conditions shouldn't be an issue; last two runs leave him with questions to answer but blinkers could spark something.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

22nd Apr 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 133y

Class 4

14:30 Hexham

Rose Sea Has

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Regressive form this season; drops back to an easier level but doesn't have the ideal scenario; this front-runner has gained all chase wins in much smaller fields.

10/1

3

22nd Apr 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 133y

Class 4

14:30 Hexham

Rose Sea Has

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Regressive form this season; drops back to an easier level but doesn't have the ideal scenario; this front-runner has gained all chase wins in much smaller fields.

10/1

9

27th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 3

15:25 Chepstow

Rose Sea Has

11st 3lb

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.50
Straight Forecast £11.42
Trifecta £19.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Real Stone

The Times:

Bythesametoken

RP RATINGS:

Real Stone

TOPSPEED:

Real Stone

POSTDATA:

Real Stone

Telegraph:

Real Stone

The Guardian:

Real Stone

Daily Mail:

Real Stone

D Express:

Real Stone

Daily Mirror:

Real Stone

The Sun:

Real Stone

The Star:

Real Stone

Daily Record:

Bythesametoken