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By Dylan Jenear ValueChecker

Need Help Choosing Your Tote Ten To Follow?
10/11/11

The Tote Ten To Follow competition is extremely popular amongst punters and racing enthusiasts alike, and with a guaranteed prize of £250,000 to the winner it’s little surprise – it’s a life-changing pot of money!

Long Run
© Racehorse Photos

Long Run

The deadline for entries is noon on November 11, so here are 10 to follow that may help when selecting your Tote Ten To Follow. In addition, the likely key targets for each horse are listed, along with ante-post betting advice.

1) LONG RUN
No points for originality, granted, but given how well Nicky Henderson’s charge won the King George VI Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup last season, it would be churlish to omit this gelding from your Ten To Follow. The French import became the first six-year-old to win the Gold Cup since Mill House in 1963 when landing jump racing’s blue riband event at the Cheltenham Festival in March and, with time very much on his side, the son of Cadoudal could rule the roost in the staying chasers’ division for years to come.

Likely key targets: The Betfair Chase at Haydock (November); The King George VI Chase at Kempton (December) and the Cheltenham Gold Cup (March).

2) GRANDS CRUS
The staying novice chasers’ division is likely to be stellar this season, and the one they’ll all have to beat in that sphere if, as expected, he takes to fences is Grands Crus. The grey quickly made up into a leading staying hurdler last term, landing competitive handicaps at Cheltenham and Haydock prior to thrashing his rivals in the Cleeve Hurdle at the former track. He beat all bar Big Buck’s decisively in the World Hurdle and the Liverpool Hurdle at the end of his 2010/11 campaign and, with the size and scope to make a chaser, he is some prospect.

Likely key targets: Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham (January); RSA Chase at Cheltenham (March).

3) SPIRIT SON
Hurricane Fly is already a very warm order to maintain his status as Champion Hurdler at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He sets the standard in the 2m hurdlers’ division, but Spirit Son is very much the new kid on the block. His sole defeat to date was when runner-up to Al Ferof in the Supreme Novices’ in March, but it was more inexperience that beat him that day (he hung badly right after the last flight). He went on to demolish his rivals in Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree a month later and may well wrest the Champion Hurdle crown from Hurricane Fly this season.

Likely key targets: International Hurdle at Ascot or Christmas Hurdle at Kempton (December); Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham (March); Aintree Hurdle at Aintree (April).

4) STEPS TO FREEDOM
One of the most exciting novice hurdlers for the season ahead is Steps To Freedom. Winner of a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree’s Grand National meeting in April, the Statue of Liberty gelding disappointed at the Punchestown Festival a month later, but has since done well on the Flat, and has won both starts over hurdles to date. An effortless winner of a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle in September, Jessica Harrington’s charge subsequently landed a Grade 3 at Punchestown where he beat seasoned hurdlers. He looks just the type for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Likely key targets: Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown (February); Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (March).

5) THE GIANT BOLSTER
Ahead of his tilt at the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday (November 12), The Giant Bolster is unbeaten in his two completed starts over fences. Admittedly, he either fell or unseated rider in three of his five starts as a novice chaser last season, but he jumped like a stag when landing a competitive novices’ handicap at Cheltenham on just his third attempt over the larger obstacles. His form over hurdles was pretty good and, aged just six, David Bridgwater’s charge has scope for improvement in this sphere.

Likely key targets: BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham (November); JLT Speciality Chase at Cheltenham (March); John Smith’s Handicap Chase at Aintree (April).

6) TATANIANO
Seen out just twice last season and below par on each occasion, Tataniano looked back to something akin to his best when burning his rivals off in a well-contested handicap chase on his reappearance at Chepstow in October, and, having had just seven starts over fences, the seven-year-old could be capable of better still this term. Indeed, he looked a star in the making when blitzing his rivals in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase at the Aintree Grand National meeting in 2010 and could yet develop into a live contender for Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Likely key targets: Game Spirit Chase at Newbury (February); Champion Chase at Cheltenham (March).

7) CHAMPION COURT
Winner of his sole start in points, Champion Court made a bright start to his career over hurdles when landing a Grade 2 novices’ event at last season’s Open Meeting at Cheltenham. He failed to add to that in two subsequent starts in that sphere, but posted a creditable effort when fourth to Bobs Worth in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival. He looked poised to make a winning chase debut when unseating rider three out at Perth in September, but duly atoned for that when scoring at Aintree a month later when jumping with aplomb. He’s a very smart prospect.

Likely key targets: Independent Newspapers Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham (November); the Jewson Novices’ Chase or the RSA Chase at Cheltenham (March).

8) DANDINO
It adds extra spice to the jumps when classy Flat performers make the transition to the National Hunt arena, and Dandino could make up into a leading novice hurdler this season. The James Given-trained colt graduated from handicaps to Pattern company with aplomb during 2010, and gained the biggest success of his career to date when landing the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket in April. He struggled in his three subsequent starts, but two of those were Group 1 races, and if he takes to hurdles he will be an exciting prospect.

Likely key targets: Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury (December); Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock (February); Neptune Investment Management Hurdle at Cheltenham (March).

9) WAYWARD PRINCE
Formerly a top-class staying novice over hurdles, Wayward Prince made a seamless transition to the larger obstacles last season, landing his first three over fences prior to finishing a highly creditable third in the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, coming home just a length adrift of winner Bostons Angel. He didn’t reproduce his best when fourth at Aintree’s Grand National meeting the following month, but it could be that he hadn’t recovered from his exertions at Aintree, and the application of a visor that day may not have helped. He looks an ideal type for the Hennessy.

Likely key targets: Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury (November); King George VI Chase at Kempton (December).

10) PATEESE
Pateese made great strides last season, placed in competitive handicaps at Newbury and Sandown respectively after getting off the mark in a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las in January. This French import should make a name for himself over fences in due course, but is likely to more than pay his way for the Philip Hobbs team over timber this term judged on his facile reappearance victory at Sandown. If he wins his next target, the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham – and he’ll have a great chance under a penalty – he could take high rank in the top handicaps throughout the season.

Likely key targets: Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham (November); totesport Trophy at Newbury (February); Imperial Cup at Sandown (March); County Hurdle at Cheltenham (March).

 

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