WITH a guaranteed sum of £1m in the prize money pool and an entry fee of just £10, studying the form book over the next few days could prove financially beneficial before the 'tote 10 to follow' competition entries close at noon on Tuesday.
Points are accumulated in all jump races during the period from Friday, November 10 to Saturday, April 14 next year.
The key is choosing 10 horses from a specified group of 500, currently listed in the Racing Post and www.totetentofollow.co.uk. The following selections have proven ability and should be back in the winner's enclosure over the coming months.
Black Jack Ketchum - will bid to retain his unbeaten record this campaign. The ground was too soft at Wetherby last weekend on his planned seasonal debut. A top-class individual from Jonjo O'Neill's yard, selected by his regular pilot Tony McCoy to extend his winning sequence.
Cloudy Lane - trained locally by Donald McCain and winning four times last season. The six-year-old is featured in Jumping Prospects produced by John Morris who included this comment from McCain in his current edition: 'Cloudy Lane is a very good jumper, who will now begin his novice chasing campaign. He looks to have the scope to continue to improve over fences on good or good to soft ground over two-and-a-half to three miles.' Running third behind Turko at Aintree last month was an excellent start to this campaign.
Detroit City - a versatile grey trained by Philip Hobbs, with the class to beat 31 horses home in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and four wins over hurdles last season. Sure to be in the frame again through the winter.
Justified - already a seven-length winner this season when appearing at Limerick last month. He was campaigned in Irish novice chases and was always in the frame apart from one outing when he unseated his rider. Selected by Irish handicappers as the horse to follow last season, there will be further success to follow.
Monet's Garden - a popular grey trained in Cumbria by Nicky Richards. The gelding began his season with a fine display of jumping to secure a twoand-a-half length win at Carlisle on Sunday.
Neptune Collonges - finished a creditable second to Our Vic at Wetherby last Saturday. Sure to come on for this run and made up considerable ground in the closing stages of this marathon. Champion trainer Paul Nicholls will place this French-bred five-year-old to make the most of his stamina.
The Market Man - an imposing individual trained by Nicky Henderson with scope. Just touched off by Mighty Man at Cheltenham last December after running up a hat-trick. A top-class New Zealand-bred horse who should build on his victories of last season.
Straw Bear - one of the stars trained by Josh Gifford who has been in the frame on each of his starts during the last two seasons. The five-year-old won at Aintree back in April and his seasonal debut is eagerly anticipated.
War of Attrition - beat the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Kicking King, 12 months ago before galloping to victory in the chasing crown himself in March. Already a winner at Punchestown, he is to appear again at Down Royal tomorrow. The one to beat with every likelihood of retaining his title at Cheltenham in 2007.
Yes Sir - a runaway winner at Bangor back in May for trainer Peter Bowen. The seven-year-old has since run up a sequence of four further wins and looks a progressive type. nBangor-on-Dee racecourse stages a six-race card next Wednesday. Action begins at 1.10pm with the Tarporley Hunt Novices Handicap Chase and the feature race on the card is the Anne Duchess of Westminster Memorial Handicap Chase.
