Unexposed Darasso set for big year – Robbie Wilders' advice for picking your Ten

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I never dipped my toe in the Ten To Follow in its previous format but, having invested copious hours meticulously handpicking premiership footballers to enhance my fantasy league prospects over the years, accruing a squad of high-class point-scoring jumpers should present few issues.

The key difference between fantasy football and the TTTF is the lack of financial restraints. Normally, you'd have to crowbar in a cheap Burnley centre-half or a bargain Norwich winger, but with no budgeting required I'll happily ditch the low-grade handicappers to build my team around Grade 1 talent.

Gordon Elliott has a stellar bunch of novice hurdlers and I was impressed with how comfortably Abacadabras swept aside Grade 3 opposition at Navan last time. He remains unbeaten in two runs over hurdles and, among the best of a useful crop of bumper horses last season, he looks destined to dine at the top table over hurdles.

Abacadabras found stablemate Envoi Allen too hot to handle in the Champion Bumper last season and after an easy maiden hurdle victory, the five-year-old is another I expect to have a big say at the major spring festivals.

I found it impossible to shun Minella Indo in the novice chase division. He took a little while to get going last season but emerged as the dominant staying hurdler of his generation. A fair second to Laurina over an inadequate trip on his first chase start, he should continue to improve as he gains more experience over fences.

The Samcro bubble burst last season but I'm convinced he wasn't right for a while before injuring himself in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown. He showed the spark still remained with a comfortable victory on his chasing debut and would need only to replicate his form over hurdles to become a Grade 1 chaser.

Rich Ricci looks set for a big season and I have sided with the ultra-consistent Min on account of his consistency and durability at the top level, compared with the clear fragility which curses his other top-class chasers, Douvan and Chacun Pour Soi.

Benie Des Dieux: earmarked for a reappearance in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in DecemberCredit: Patrick McCann

Also making the cut is Benie Des Dieux, another of Riccci's leading lights, who has been earmarked for a reappearance in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December, and remains unbeaten for Willie Mullins when standing up.

I can't give up on Klassical Dream after his Morgiana defeat. He travelled sweetly before shaping as if needing the run and, having won twice at Leopardstown, he looks tailor-made for races lsuch as the Ryanair Hurdle and the Irish Champion Hurdle.

Clan Des Obeaux and Paisley Park will form my British contingent. I was pleased with the former's comeback behind Road To Respect at Down Royal and would expect plenty of improvement from it. Paisley Park was the best staying hurdler last season and I see no reason why he won’t continue in the same vein this campaign.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Darasso is my wildcard selection. The six-year-old has run only once over fences for the yard, which yielded a comfortable victory over Cadmium, who franked the form to romp home by six lengths in the Topham and is now rated 162. I could see Darasso ending the season among the top two-mile chasers.

Robbie Wilders' Ten To Follow

Abacadabras
Benie Des Dieux
Clan Des Obeaux
Darasso
Envoi Allen
Klassical Dream
Min
Minella Indo
Paisley Park
Samcro

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