Doubling up in spring races the key to success in transfer window

There are just seven weeks left to get points on the board in this season's Tote Ten to Follow. The next two months will play a major part in the competition's outcome as thousands of racing fans chase a £177,961 first prize.

With the option to transfer two horses in and out of your stable, playing the percentages and bringing in horses who will compete in more than one big race before the end of scoring is arguably the best way to go.

The most likely way to bag double bonus points is by looking at the hurdlers. Taking in the Aintree Hurdle after a run in the Champion Hurdle or Stayers' could return a horse upwards of 100 points, with both contests being bonus races.

Since 2017, Nicky Henderson has run five horses in the Aintree Hurdle. All but one of them had taken part in one of the festival's championship races. Furthermore, the four horses who ran in
both either won or came second in at least one of the contests.

Epatante, who was scarcely picked at the start of the Ten to Follow competition, as well as Pentland Hills who landed the Cheltenham-Aintree double last term, should be high on players' transfer wish lists.

Pentland Hills: struck at Cheltenham and Aintree last seasonCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Outside of Seven Barrows, the Jessica Harrington-trained Supasundae has run in an Aintree Grade 1 three times after lining up at the festival, winning once and finishing second twice.

Away from the bonus races, Grade 1 doubles can add healthy returns to a stable's score.

The last six Betway Bowl winners had run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup a month earlier. But with three of the last four falling or unseating in the Friday festival highlight, a points double-up has not been a regular occurrence.

Instead, looking at RSA Chase candidates who could be Aintree-bound might be a better strategy. Five horses have won or placed in both races in the last four years with Might Bite landing both in 2017.

Casting an eye over those staying novices could yield a nice points return for those looking to use this transfer window to full effect and double up their scoring opportunities.

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