December 23 / 14.40 Haydock

14.40

Heavy

Betfred Hot Shots Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 0f 67y
  • Class 3
  • 4 runners
RTV
View Course
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

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

4th

1

4th Oct 2026

Good

2m 1f 0y

15:55 Killarney

Bythesametoken

11st 12lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Lightly raced in recent years; returned from over a year off to win at Listowel last year; has not scaled the same heights since although stayed on from a good bit back to be fourth in a handicap chase at the Galway festival; only got to the first fence at Listowel two weeks ago.

8/1

12

20th Sep 2026

Good

2m 1f 150y

16:48 Listowel

Bythesametoken

10st 4lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Second runner for yard; three wins apiece over hurdles and fences, with last win coming in this a year ago off 2lb lower; posted a good run at Galway last time from out of the weights; was behind Coming Up Easy then but it should be closer today.

7/1

4th

12

2nd Aug 2026

Good

2m 2f 54y

15:30 Galway

Bythesametoken

10st 0lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Owned by Galway people but hasn't clicked here yet, although has run well over hurdles at this venue; last win was over similar trip at last year's Listowel festival, but 8lb higher now because he's well out of the handicap.

18/1

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