The 50 key horses to help you win the £100,000 Tote Ten to Follow

The list below of 50 key horses for the Jumps Ten To Follow competition is strongly weighted in favour of proven top-level performers – and unapologetically so.

Of the 21 bonus races in the competition, just two are restricted to novices – the Arkle and the Brown Advisory – so while many players love to include exciting, unexposed horses about to embark on their first season over hurdles or fences, you have to bear in mind that it’s the horses who have been there and done it who get to play for the big points.

Of course, you could manage to find the one or two novice hurdlers who sweep all before them, but that is a devilishly difficult task at this stage and, even if you do succeed, the rewards aren’t as great as managing the (slightly) more straightforward challenge of working out the championship divisions, where you at least have more evidence in front of you. Indeed, the only novice hurdler to feature among the top ten point-scorers in the last two seasons was Stellar Story, who did so only on account of paying a total Tote return of £49.20 (SP 33-1) when he won last season's Albert Bartlett.

Ahoy Senor
Trainer: Lucinda Russell
Disappointing last season until a close second behind Gerri Colombe in the Aintree Bowl but has reportedly blossomed since then and ran a race full of promise on his return in the Old Roan. He’s on course for the Betfair Chase and is likely to feature in all the top staying chases in Britain.

Ballyburn
Willie Mullins
Outstanding novice hurdler last season, with a stunning 13-length win in the Gallagher at Cheltenham among four victories, including three at Grade 1 level. It remains to be seen whether he stays hurdling or goes novice chasing, but either way his progress will be fascinating to follow.

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Banbridge
Joseph O’Brien
Lightly raced and progressive chaser who took a big step forward when winning the Punchestown Champion Chase over two miles in the spring. He had previously shown his best form over two and a half miles and could even stay three, so should find plenty of opportunities in top races, although quicker ground is key.

Bravemansgame
Paul Nicholls
Arguably Britain’s leading staying chaser over the last couple of years, winning the 2022 King George and finishing second in the Gold Cup that season. However, he didn’t hit those heights last season and his return in the Charlie Hall was a disappointment, so he’ll be on a recovery mission in the Betfair Chase.

Caldwell Potter
Paul Nicholls
Grade 1 winner for Gordon Elliott last season before a record €740,000 sale into Paul Nicholls’ yard. He won twice on heavy ground during a light novice hurdle campaign, including his biggest victory at Leopardstown over Christmas, and was put away by his new trainer for chasing, where he has the potential to go to the top.

Captain Guinness has a consistent performer in top two-mile chases in recent seasonsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Captain Guinness
Henry de Bromhead
Surprise winner of last season’s Champion Chase, exploiting El Fabiolo’s early exit. He has also won the last two runnings of the Fortria Chase but has more often been the bridesmaid in top two-mile chases and finished second at Grade 1 level for the fourth time behind Banbridge at Punchestown.

Chianti Classico
Kim Bailey
Won the Ultima Chase at last season’s Cheltenham Festival to crown a hugely progressive novice season last term. He was only fourth at Aintree when stepped up to Grade 1 level but became involved in a duel up front and retains potential in top staying chases judged on another fine handicap win first time out at Ascot.

Constitution Hill
Nicky Henderson
Arguably the most talented horse in jump racing who has won all eight races under rules, including an effortless Champion Hurdle triumph in 2023. He has been beset by health woes since last season’s return in the Fighting Fifth and missed the rest of last season, but he’s still undoubtedly the best hurdler around if retaining his ability.

Corbetts Cross
Emmet Mullins
Progressive novice chaser last season, running out an easy winner of the National Hunt Chase before proving he can hold his own in top company with a fine third in the Aintree Bowl behind Gerri Colombe. He was disappointing on his return at Wexford but remains a fascinating contender for top staying chases.

Dancing City
Willie Mullins
Three-time Grade 1 winner in novice hurdles last season and bounced back from managing only third in the Albert Bartlett to score at Aintree and Punchestown, beating the Cheltenham one-two. He’s likely to go chasing and looks a fine prospect.

El Fabiolo
Willie Mullins
Looked a superstar in winning his first six races over fences, including the Arkle in 2023 and a brilliant win in the Dublin Chase last term, but came unstuck last spring when he was pulled up after an early blunder in the Champion Chase and jumped poorly when second in the Celebration Chase.

Energumene could make his presence felt after missing last seasonCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Energumene
Willie Mullins
Missed all of last season but had been a wide-margin winner of the previous two editions of the Champion Chase at Cheltenham, doubling up at Punchestown both times. He’s been beaten just twice in three seasons over fences and still sets the standard in Champion Chase division at his best.

Envoi Allen
Henry de Bromhead
Has a remarkably good record for a horse who has never quite lived up to enormous early expectations, with comeback victory at Down Royal his ninth at Grade 1 level. He also won at the Cheltenham Festival for the third time in the Ryanair Chase in 2023, although he hadn’t won since then until Down Royal.

Fact To File
Willie Mullins
Moved straight from bumpers to novice chases last season and rewarded connections’ boldness with a fine campaign crowned by a comfortable odds-on win in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham. He relished going up to three miles for the first time that day and looks a proper Gold Cup horse.

Fastorslow
Martin Brassil
Top-class staying chaser who has won the Punchestown Gold Cup in each of the last two seasons plus last year’s John Durkan, beating Galopin Des Champs each time. He was no match for that rival in the Irish Gold Cup but was still in contention when unseating his rider at Cheltenham.

Firefox returned at Down Royal and looks a fine chasing prospectCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Firefox
Gordon Elliott
Fine chasing type who did well over hurdles last season when placed in three Grade 1 novices having earlier claimed the huge scalp of Ballyburn. Better is expected over fences and he looks an outstanding novice chase prospect.

Found A Fifty
Gordon Elliott
Smart and tough novice chaser last season who won two Grade 1 races and was second in three others. He was outclassed by Gaelic Warrior in the Arkle but made the most of an easier opportunity when justifying favouritism at Aintree and again impressed when scoring on his return at Down Royal.

Gaelic Warrior
Willie Mullins
Talented but enigmatic chaser who produced the best performance by a novice last season when romping home in the Arkle but flopped at odds-on either side of that. He’s not necessarily one to trust but has the talent to win top races from two to three miles.

Galopin Des Champs
Willie Mullins
Dominant staying chaser of the last two seasons, winning back-to-back runnings of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He’s also won the Irish Gold Cup twice among a Grade 1 tally of nine, with his most notable defeats coming at the end of the season at Punchestown. The one to beat in the Gold Cup again.

Gerri Colombe
Gordon Elliott
Five-time Grade 1 winner who had never finished out of the first two in 13 races under rules until a tame reappearance at Down Royal. He put a rare blip over Christmas behind him when a much closer second to Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup and followed a Cheltenham second by winning at Aintree for the second year in a row.

Ginny’s Destiny
Paul Nicholls
Smart and progressive novice chaser last season who won three times at Cheltenham at around two and a half miles, utilising aggressive front-running tactics. He again ran well at the track when second in the Turners before another Grade 1 second at Aintree and remains on a fair mark for top handicaps.

Grey Dawning is Britain's leading young prospect for staying chasesCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Grey Dawning
Dan Skelton
Only British winner of a Cheltenham Festival novice chase when landing the Turners last season, reversing course form with Ginny’s Destiny. He had proved his stamina for three miles with an easy Grade 2 win at Warwick and could be a big player in top staying chases.

Hewick
Shark Hanlon
Hugely popular stayer who has put together a remarkably strong and varied CV, including his biggest win in last season’s King George. He benefited from a pace collapse that day and has generally come up short in Grade 1 races in Europe, although he has often been placed, including at Down Royal this month.

I Am Maximus
Willie Mullins
Remarkably easy winner of the Grand National at Aintree, showing class and stamina to hack up under a big weight. He’d been a slow burner over fences but is seemingly going from strength to strength and could even have Grade 1 potential.

Il Est Francais
Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm
Exciting French youngster who was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and ran away with the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton last season on just his third run over fences, sparking dreams of future British trips. He won well at Auteuil in September and is favourite for the King George.

Il Etait Temps
Willie Mullins
Went from strength to strength in novice chases last season, finishing the campaign with three Grade 1 wins, most impressively over two and a half miles at Aintree. He’s yet to run to form at Cheltenham but that often means he is underrated away from there.

Impaire Et Passe
Willie Mullins
Brilliant novice hurdler two seasons ago (Grade 1 winner at Cheltenham and Punchestown) who didn’t quite live up to expectations last term, coming up short in top two-mile hurdles but doing better back up in trip. He remains a terrific prospect for novice chases.

Inothewayurthinkin
Gavin Cromwell
Exciting and sharply progressive staying chaser who easily landed a big gamble in last season’s Kim Muir at Cheltenham before adding a soft Grade 1 novice chase at Aintree. He has the scope to develop further and could be a Gold Cup horse.

Intense Raffles
Tom Gibney
French recruit who won all three races following switch to Ireland last season, culminating in the Irish Grand National. A sharp rise in the weights might well rule out handicaps but he’ll be a fascinating contender for top staying chases.

Inthepocket
Henry de Bromhead
Smart novice hurdler two seasons ago and took advantage of a more straightforward Grade 1 opportunity at Aintree after twice running well in defeat at that level (fourth in the Supreme). He ran just once last season (second to Facile Vega) but retained novice status and made a bright start this season at Wexford.

Iroko
Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
Won the Martin Pipe Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2023 and proved an even better chaser last term despite missing four months with a foot issue. Fifth in the Turners was a fine effort on his first run back and he improved when second over three miles at Aintree despite appearing to find the track too sharp.

Jade De Grugy is high class over hurdles and looks a fine chasing prospectCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Jade De Grugy
Willie Mullins
Exciting young mare who has won three out of four races since joining Willie Mullins from France, including a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse when benefiting from a longer trip than when fourth in the mares’ novice at the Cheltenham Festival. She’s bred to be a chaser and could flourish over fences.

Jasmin De Vaux
Willie Mullins
Last season’s highest-rated bumper horse after winning the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, benefiting from a real stamina test. The usual caveats about novice hurdlers in this competition apply but he’s a fine prospect.

Jonbon
Nicky Henderson
Prolific chaser who has won nine out of 11 races over fences, six at Grade 1 level, and should again be hard to beat in top two-mile chases. He missed the Champion Chase last season but bounced back to land a Grade 1 double at Aintree and Sandown for the second year in a row.

Journey With Me
Henry de Bromhead
Talented and lightly raced chaser who missed nearly all of last season but returned in the spring to win a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse before a fair seventh in the Punchestown Gold Cup. He should have more to offer in good chases.

L’Homme Presse
Venetia Williams
Very lightly raced since brilliant Brown Advisory win at Cheltenham in 2022 following injuries. He would have been a fine second in the King George that year but for departing at the last and returned last season with a win at Lingfield before finishing fourth in the Gold Cup. He could still have more to come in top staying chases.

Lossiemouth
Willie Mullins
Brilliant mare who has won at the Cheltenham Festivals for the last two seasons, most recently adding the Mares’ Hurdle to the 2023 Triumph. She’d looked a Champion Hurdle horse when easily winning the International and likely to have a crack at that race this term.

Majborough Willie Mullins
Grand chasing type who showed remarkable precocity to win the Triumph Hurdle last season on just his second run for Willie Mullins. Connections have made the bold call to go chasing with him as a four-year-old and it will be fascinating to watch his progress.

Marine Nationale
Barry Connell
Exciting young chaser who has won six out of seven races under rules, including the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2023. He scored impressively on his chase debut last term only to lose his unbeaten record when fifth at odds-on in the Irish Arkle and then missed the rest of the season through injury.

Monty’s Star
Henry de Bromhead
Big, raw chasing type who flourished when switched to fences last season, twice finishing second in 3m Grade 1 novices including behind Fact To File at Cheltenham. He should be competitive in top staying chases.

Mystical Power
Willie Mullins
Beautifully bred gelding (Galileo x Annie Power) who proved a brilliant novice hurdler himself last season, when he won five out of six races and bounced back from sole defeat behind Slade Steel in the Supreme with a Grade 1 double at Aintree and Punchestown. He’s set for a Champion Hurdle campaign.

Protektorat
Dan Skelton
A clear-cut winner of last season’s Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, rewarding connections’ decision to drop in distance after coming up short in top staying chases (hadn’t won since the Betfair Chase in 2022). He could have a big season now connections know his trip.

Romeo Coolio
Gordon Elliott
One of only two novice hurdlers in the list on account of his fine second in last season’s Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, where he travelled notably well before getting outstayed. Victory on hurdles debut taught us little but he’ll be a big player in top two-mile novices come the spring.

Royale Pagaille
Venetia Williams
Took form to a new peak when winning last season’s Betfair Chase at Haydock, relishing a stiff test of stamina at his favourite course. He’s come up well short in all six other runs at Grade 1 level but will be a big player in the Betfair again.

Sir Gino had to miss the Cheltenham Festival but was an emphatic winner at AintreeCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Sir Gino
Nicky Henderson
Top-rated juvenile hurdler last season after an outstanding unbeaten campaign. He missed the Triumph Hurdle (stable under a cloud) but beat the Cheltenham second and Punchestown winner Kargese decisively at Aintree.

Slade Steel
Henry de Bromhead
Good winner of last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, staying on strongly up the hill. He stays further (possibly unsuited by a sharper test on better ground when third behind Mystical Power at Punchestown) and is a fine prospect for novice chases.

Spillane’s Tower
Jimmy Mangan
High-class and progressive novice chaser last season who won four of his last five races, including a thrilling Grade 1 double at Fairyhouse and Punchestown, improving for the step up to three miles on the second occasion.

State Man
Willie Mullins
Brilliant hurdler who has won 12 out of 13 completed starts for Willie Mullins, the last ten at Grade 1 level. He suffered his sole defeat to Constitution Hill in the 2023 Champion Hurdle but exploited his rival’s absence to win the crown last season before following up at Punchestown and could win plenty more Grade 1 hurdles.

Strong Leader
Olly Murphy
Progressive young hurdler who improved when stepped up to three miles last season, most notably when winning a Grade 1 at Aintree on his final run. He’s arguably the best of a moderate bunch among Britain’s staying hurdlers, although his trainer feels he doesn’t like Cheltenham (purposely skipped the festival last spring).

Teahupoo
Gordon Elliott
Developed into the dominant staying hurdler last season, pulling off the big double at Cheltenham and Punchestown having managed third and fourth in the same races 12 months earlier. He purposely ran just once earlier in the season, landing a second Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, and is likely to have the same sole prep run for the festival again.

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