Ten To Follow Update 28.03.2019

The 2019 edition of The Festival provided us with four days of top-quality jumping action. This Ten To Follow Update includes:

• A day-by-day recap of all the point scoring races
• Five unique player pick winners
• A new overall competition leader

Day 1

With a lot of the big names failing to deliver Tuesday was a tough day for many Ten To Follow players. The day started with the Supreme where Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins got off to a flying start with a victory from Klassical Dream. Willie Mullins made it a quick double, scoring in the Arkle with Duc Des Genievres in a race where the popular horses of Lalor, Glen Forsa and Kalashnikov all failed to finish. The Ultima was next and provided Nicky Henderson with his first win of the Festival courtesy of Beware The Bear.

The feature race of the day was the Champion Hurdle where racegoers were excited to finally see Apples Jade, Buveur D’Air and Laurina all line up together. However, the prize went to the other J P McManus horse Espoir D’Allen who put in an incredible performance to beat the field by 15 lengths. This was the first race of the day to score any points for players, well done to Patrick Stroudley who picked the Gavin Cromwell trained horse, securing 55 points.

The Mares’ Hurdle provided another upset when odds on favourite Benie Des Dieux had all but won the race heading to the last, only to fall and unseat jockey Ruby Walsh leaving the path clear for Roksana and Harry Skelton to come through and land the race. This was the second, and final point scoring race of the day for players. Congratulations to Penny Waddell who was the only person to pick the Mares’ Hurdle winner. The final two races of the Tuesday saw Rachael Blackmore and A Plus Tard put in a commanding performance to win the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase by 16 lengths and Jamie Codd and Le Breuil win the National Hunt Challenge Cup.

Day 2

City Island got the Wednesday action started, staying on well to beat the popular Champ and win the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. Next up was the RSA which provided one of the best finishes of the week as Topofthegame, Santini and Delta Work were all in contention going over the last. Topofthegame really was at the top of his game as he stayed on well to hold off his two challengers, scoring 55 points for 24 Ten To Follow teams. The Coral Cup saw William Henry fly home up the Cheltenham hill to win by just a short head, well done to Trevor Shaw who scored 45 points thanks to the Henderson horse.

The Champion Chase saw Altior return to the track, and he once again showed his class to claim the Grade 1. Despite being headed by Sceau Royal going over the last Altior kept on well and started to assert in the final 100 yards, providing a quick-fire double for Henderson and De Boinville and 55 points for 239 teams.

The final two point scoring races saw Band Of Outlaws deliver for favourite backers in the Fred Winter, and Envoi Allen run on gamely to land the Champion Bumper.

Day 3

Thursday’s action started with the JLT where Defi Du Seuil got the better of rival Lostintranslation to win for Philip Hobbs and Barry Geraghty, and score 55 points for 17 Ten To Follow teams. Geraghty made it two from two in the Pretemps guiding Sire Du Berlais home to win by just a neck.

The next two races provided two of the stories of the week. The Ryanair Chase saw the well-loved duo of Frodon and Bryony Frost strike again, fighting back up the Cheltenham hill to regain the lead from Aso and land the spoils. Well done to Derek Latham who scored 55 points with the win. The Stayers’ Hurdle saw Paisley Park confirm himself as the real deal, winning the Grade 1 contest with Aidan Coleman for trainer Emma Lavelle and owner Andrew Gemmell.  

The final three races saw Lizzie Kelly and Siruh Du Lac win the Grade 3 Chase, Eglantine Du Seuil and Noel Fehily win the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at an SP of 50/1 and Any Second Now win the Kim Muir.

Day 4

The final day of The Festival started with the Triumph Hurdle and provided Henderson and De Boinville with another Festival winner in Pentland Hills. Congratulations to Ray Bown who was the only player to score 55 points thanks to the win. The County Hurdle was next and Ch’tibello ran impressively to claim the prize for the Skeltons. The Albert Bartlett provided Rachael Blackmore with her second festival winner as Minella Indo stayed on well up the hill to win at 50/1.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup was next and Irish raider Presenting Percy went off as favourite. Last year’s runner up Might Bite disputed the lead most of the way round, but weakened rapidly turning in and was pulled up by his jockey.  However, the same can’t be said of Al Boum Photo who stayed on very strongly after the last to win the legendary race by two and a half lengths, giving trainer Willie Mullins his first win in the Festival’s feature race. Congratulations to Tony Wells and Ray Bown who were the only players to pick the Gold Cup winner!

The final three races of The Festival saw Hazel Hill win the Foxhunter, Croco Bay upset the odds to win the Grand Annual at 66/1, and Early Doors win the Martin Pipe with Jonjo O’Neill Jr on board.

The leader board is now topped by Penny Waddell who had a good Festival with wins from Altior, Defi Du Seuil and Roksana. However, Derek Latham isn’t far behind in second place with 490 points. The full standings can be found here.