Ten To Follow 23.10.2019

This year’s Ten To Follow Flat competition came to a close at Ascot Racecourse on Qipco British Champions Day.

The action got underway with the Group 1 Sprint Stakes and with the heavy ground creating some uncertainty in the market, Advertise and One Master set off as joint favourites. However, as is so often the way in these big field sprint races the winner was one of the outsiders in the form of Donjuan Triumphant under former champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa. The King Power horse wasn’t selected by any players and so no points were scored.

The Group 2 Long Distance Cup came next and once again Stradivarius went off as hot favourite having won his last ten starts. One furlong out he looked set to make it eleven in a row, but Kew Gardens wouldn’t go away and after a titanic battle in the home straight Kew Gardens just managed to get his head in front to record his first victory since the 2018 St Leger. This was a popular result for players as 47 teams earned 50 points for the victory.

Three more Group 1s followed, starting with the Fillies & Mares which was won by Star Catcher who finished off a fantastic season winning her third Group 1 race. The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes was next and after an impressive return to action at Newmarket last time out Benbatl started as favourite. However, it was King Of Change who put in a commanding performance to win by over a length with Benbatl bringing up the rear in last place.

The final point scoring race of this year’s competition was the Group 1 Champion Stakes and with no Enable to contend with fans of Magical were hopeful she could score her third Group 1 of the season, and that she did, staying on well in the final furlong to get home in front by three quarters of a length. This was a big result for players, scoring 55 points for 80 different teams.

It has been tight at the top throughout this competition with Alan Wellsteed and Paul Timms battling it out in front. It went to the judges, but they couldn’t be split, both finishing on 710 points for the season and banking £350 in the process. In third place, and taking home £100, was Graham Hoskin who ended up just behind on 675. The final standings can be viewed here.