'He has always looked like a three-miler' - Paul Kealy gives his view

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We all know you need to get bonus-race winners to land the Ten To Follow, but how seriously can you really attack the handicaps?

It's okay having a crack at the Ladbrokes Trophy and Welsh National, but there really is no point in looking for winners of the Scottish National, bet365 Gold Cup and Grand National this early.

All those races come after the pre-Cheltenham Festival substitution window, so that is when to start thinking of those.

As for the Ladbrokes Trophy and Welsh National, I wouldn't be surprised if Elegant Escape ran in both again and he is way up on my shortlist for the latter despite a handicap mark of 160.

I thought he ran a cracker when second in the Charlie Hall and an out-and-out stamina test on bad ground suits him better than most. He's still young enough to improve some more.

As for the top-class options at around 3m I'm going with Cyrname and Lostintranslation, so it's fair to say this piece could age badly if both get stuffed this afternoon – at least you'll get the chance to kick them off your shortlist before the entries close!

I am perfectly happy to believe that Cyrname is as good as he looked on his final two starts at Ascot last season and, as a seven-year-old he is fully entitled to improve again. Based on those two Ascot efforts he doesn't need to, though, and I expect him to have another good year.

Lostintranslation is the new kid on the block and while he was fully entitled to win as easily as he did on his return at Carlisle, he at least provided confirmation that he's in great nick.

He always looked as though he was crying out for 3m last season, and so it proved when he thrashed RSA winner Topofthegame at Aintree. He should develop into a serious Gold Cup contender.

Defi Du Seuil and Chacun Pour Soi have to be considered the two most likely contenders for top two-mile honours unless connections have an about-turn with Altior, but with the latter turning ten in January, I'm leaving him out anyway.

Defi Du Seuil, already a dual festival winner at the age of six, looked on good terms with himself when winning the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham and will take some beating until the spring.

There he could well run into Chacun Pour Soi, who put him in his place at Punchestown last season and is really exciting. He's a dangerous one to put in, considering he missed three years before his two runs last term, but word is he is doing well.

I'm not buying Klassical Dream's Morgiana defeat and still make him the most likely winner of the Champion Hurdle. Willie Mullins managed to get Hurricane Fly and Faugheen beaten in that race and Klassical Dream improved with every run last term. It will be disappointing if he doesn't do so again.

As for the staying hurdles, Paisley Park is impossible to leave out, but watch out for If The Cap Fits improving again. He has always looked like a three-miler and proved it at Aintree in April.

For my novice chaser to rack up the points I'm going for Samcro, who always looked an unlikely Champion Hurdle contender to my eyes but is now doing what he is supposed to be doing. He was good on his debut.

Finally, the Mullins-trained Min has been forgotten, but with Chacun Pour Soi going over 2m, he could mop up over 2m4f in Britain and Ireland this term.

Paul Kealy's Ten To Follow

Chacun Pour Soi
Cyrname
Defi Du Seuil
Elegant Escape
Klassical Dream
Lostintranslation
Paisley Park
If The Cap Fits
Min
Samcro

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