Tote Ten To Follow Guide

Entering through John Mulhollan's is a must for the Tote ten To Follow as it gets you entry into the official competition as well as the John Mulholland side pool so two sets of prizes for the same price.

There that's my attempt at marketing, now onto how to win the bloody thing.

Many syndicates will invest larges sums of money but don't let that detract from the single entrant. Last season Johnny Leonard won the John Mulholland version with a single entry and collected a cool €3,ooo for his selections. I spoke to him about how he sets about winning it and we agreed on a few things and argued on a few others. First things first. The Bonus races


Winning the big bonus races will propel you out above pack. Johnny had Big Zeb, Big Bucks and Binocular last season and went up the leaderboard with Usain Bolt type speed. He looks most carefully at the Paddy Power, King George, the Irish champion hurdle and 6 Cheltenham races as the rest are too hard to guage this far out.

Paddy Power Gold Cup	(Cheltenham 13 November)
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup	(Newbury 27 November)
William Hill King George VI Chase	(Kempton Park 26 December)
Irish Champion Hurdle	(Leopardstown 23 January)
Irish Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup	(Leopardstown 6 February)
Totesport Trophy	(Newbury 12 February)
Racing Post Chase	(Kempton Park 26 February)
Champion Hurdle	(Cheltenham 15 March)
Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy	(Cheltenham 15 March)
All Seasons Queen Mother Champion Chase	(Cheltenham 16 March)
Royal & SunAlliance Chase	(Cheltenham 16 March)
Ladbroke World Hurdle	(Cheltenham 17 March)
Ryanair Festival Trophy Chase	(Cheltenham 17 March)
Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup	(Cheltenham 18 March)
John Smith’s Grand National	(Aintree 9 April)

The winner of the big races is of course imperative and some horses will be on everybody's list but for good measure. There is no point ignoring all the big horses as you think others will have them. Look to have 5-6 big horses and your own selections, try to get the balance right. Leaving out Kauto Star over the years would have been folly as the King George was a bonus race and no point throwing away a minimum of 25 points. Whether you believe Kauto is now over the hill and worth leaving out is another matter.

My stone wall one this season has to be Imperial Commander, he will win the Betfair Chase and will finish in the first two in the Gold Cup injury permitting. I believe he can't be left out but it's a game of opinions. Johnny agrees and we both believe Binocluar and especially Big Bucks must also be on the list.

Binocular was in nearly everybody's list ad proved a serious disappointment until the champion hurdle. He will be better this season and can defend his title.


Big Bucks is another that just cannot be left out unless you know the rest of the racing world doesn't as he has the staying hurdles division to himself and nothing can get near him.

The 2 mile chase division is harder to guage but Big Zeb will win Irish prizes as well as going close again in the Champion Chase. Doubtful we'll see him in the Tingle Creek as he'll likely stay at left handed tracks. Master Minded would do well to come back and Sizing Europe doesn't have a Azertyuiop/Moscow Flyer profile. perhaps a French breed horse not even on the list will emerge this season.

The Paddy Power Gold Cup is the first bonus race and Long Run is a short price favourite. He will be in loads of people's lists and with good reason as this is his trip and although high in the weights, his Jockey(Sam Waley Chohen) will be able to claim and should make amends for a poor RSA. We both agreed he is worth sticking in

The Hennessy could have Denman and Kauto Star both in the race and heavens knows what the rest of the field will be receiving in weight. Denman was fantastic defying top weight twice in this race and it would be a monumental effort to do so for a 3rd time but a horse who could get into the race proper and cause him trouble is Burton Point and even if he doesn't win, he'll collect plenty of prize money through the season. He's my dark horse for the season.

Sanctuaire could be a top hurdler to follow and should win the Greatwood on the first Sunday of the season. Check out the Morigana hurdlers from Ireland, may may wish to include either Hurricane Fly or Solwhit as well. Johnny had Solwhit last season but is leaning towards Hurricane Fly this season. Its important to have an Irish hurdler to mop up prizes this side of the Irish Sea and of course the Irish Champion Stakes. Johnny doesn't rate Sanctuaire but I believe he could be the new Celestial Halo and wouldn't be surprised to see Nicholls take him over for the big race.

When selecting your 10( we add two bonus ones in late February for the Cheltenham festival) We must look to strike a balance between Chasers and Hurdlers. 5+5 or worse 4+6 either way. Johnny Leonard argued it should be closer to 7 chasers versus 3 hurdlers as the chasers have more prizes to win.

Here are my 10 for the season. Good Luck and enjoy the season ahead.


IMPERIAL COMMANDER- CHASER
BURTON POINT-CHASER
BINOCULAR-HURDLER
LONG RUN-CHASER
SANCTUAIRE-HURDLER
BIG BUCKS-HURLDER
JESSIES DREAM-CHASER
KHYBER KIM-HURDLER
BIG ZEB-CHASER
GREAT ENDEAVOR-CHASER