Keith Melrose packs his Ten To Follow list with exciting chasers

The Tote Ten to Follow will be won by staying chasers and so those selections deserve to be given the greatest consideration. The relevant bonus races have fanned out this year, they are a little more Irish and a little less Gold Cup-centric. Both will reward horses campaigned more energetically than Al Boum Photo, who proved pivotal to last year's competition only because the season was curtailed.

It was interesting to note that Lostintranslation's connections are keeping the likes of Aintree up their sleeve this year. I don't think he necessarily stayed in the Gold Cup, but with the Betfair Chase, King George/Savills and Bowl likely to be the centrepieces of his campaign, he is well worth including this year even if the Cheltenham dream looks more foggy than at this time last year.

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The equivalent Irish races were both won by Delta Work last year and he will come on for his recent return. Even so, it is felt that he might be vulnerable to a couple of improving novices. The choice between Minella Indo and Allaho is tough, although if you agree with my position that Allaho will do well to get away with a bare 3m then the percentage call is Minella Indo.

You also need a handicapper or two, to target the Ladbrokes Trophy/Welsh National and spring Grand Nationals. They have been deliberately split into two categories, the mudbaths and other, and I would see Two For Gold as a runner in the 2020 races. It is naturally harder to see into 2021, so the Grand National horse is saved for the transfer window although I nearly plumped for Le Breuil.

There are a greater number of shorter chases this year, but all are Grade 1s. The two-mile division seems open, so I'm hoping Greaneteen can fill the gap in Britain and Min might even be tempted to drop down, although that admittedly depends on the lightly raced Chacun Pour Soi.

Even if he does not, the Ryanair and Melling Chase are options and that is why Imperial Aura also gets a spot. He might be a three-miler, he might not but either way he will be competing in Grade 1s. It was surprising to note the other day that he has run only ten times. He can keep improving.

The final two chasers are novices, with the Arkle and the race known formerly as the RSA Chase being bonus races – and the spring marathons an option for stayers who do not quite step up. I reckon Envoi Allen will avoid all bonus races, so he is reluctantly discounted. As much as I would like to make more creative selections, both the Supreme and Albert Bartlett winners (Shishkin and Monkfish) looked like chasers in disguise last year.

Including just two hurdlers is partly tactical, remembering the balance of bonus races, and partly playing to one's strengths. Epatante will probably run in only one bonus race and will be short for that, whileHoneysuckle appeals as more of a points-grabber. Hopefully, her connections take the bold route at Cheltenham this time around.

Among the open staying division, Sire Du Berlais does not have much to find at all and, now he is not incubating a handicap mark, can tot up a good number of points before attempting the Stayers-Liverpool Hurdle double, both of which are bonus races.

Keith Melrose's Ten To Follow

Greaneteen
Honeysuckle
Imperial Aura
Lostintranslation
Min
Minella Indo
Monkfish
Shishkin
Sire Du Berlais
Two For Gold

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