Ballydoyle star Bolshoi Ballet raises fans’ hopes of a big points haul ahead

There were plenty of scorers in the Tote Ten To Follow last week with 16 horses picking up points, but the one who really counted was Bolshoi Ballet.

His Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial win for Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle battalion may have yielded only 17.90 points, but in representing 10.8 per cent of Ten To Follow stables he was the most popular winner of the week and his six-length romp promised more glory ahead.

The biggest scorer of the week also came in a Classic trial, with the Roger Varian-trained El Drama collecting 30.50 points in Chester’s Dee Stakes. In contrast to Bolshoi Ballet, he carried the hopes of only 0.1 per cent of stables and the two colts are unlikely to clash in the Derby as El Drama may head to Chantilly for the French equivalent.

El Drama's Dee Stakes victory brought the highest Ten To Follow points haul of the weekCredit: Edward Whitaker

El Drama became the season’s third-highest points scorer after Poetic Flare and Mother Earth, and just ahead of Victoria Cup scorer River Nymph, whose 28.40 points benefited just two stables.

Followers of O’Brien enjoyed a fruitful week with Armory landing the Huxley Stakes for 21.60 points, Joan Of Arc taking the Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial for 19.90 points and Japan coming out on top in the Ormonde Stakes for three per cent of stables that kept the faith after last season’s disappointments. The 18.20 points secured took Early7 into second in the table on 173.40 points, snapping at the heels of LookedAtThat V who did not add to a first week’s tally of 173.65.

Other notable scorers included Chester Vase winner Youth Spirit. Picked by just four stables, Andrew Balding’s charge bagged 26.1 points, while Falcon Eight collected 18 points for five stables in the Tote Chester Cup.

Friday’s Ascot scorer Fresh also earned a place on the leaderboard by earning one stable 22.70 points for his success for the James Fanshawe team.

LEADING HORSES
1 Poetic Flare 72.00 points
2 Mother Earth 60.40
3 El Drama 30.50
4 River Nymph 28.40
5 Youth Spirit 26.10
6 Sir Ron Priestley 23.45
7 Ebaiyra 22.80
7 No Speak Alexander 22.80
9 Fresh 22.70
10 Broome 22.40

LEADERBOARD
1 LookedAtThat V 173.65 points
2 Early7 173.40
3 Arcadians 24 170.60
4 MK's 14 165.20
4 MK's 16 165.20
6 Arcadians 02 157.55
6 Arcadians 03 157.55
6 Arcadians 04 157.55
9 Arcadians 21 155.85
10 No Hay Ever 3 155.20

LEADING STABLE
Poetic Flare 72.00 points
Mother Earth 60.40
Sir Ron Priestley 23.45
Master Of The Seas 14.75
Emaraaty Ana 1.60
Pyledriver 1.45
Palace Pier 0
A’Shaari 0
Santa Barbara 0
Wembley 0

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