MyCatChip holds off chasing pack to take Flat title as big guns misfire at Ascot

A Saturday on which so many of the major players of the 2021 Flat season were in action at Ascot will have been a jittery one for the longtime leader in the Tote Ten To Follow competition, MyCatChip.

They need not have been anxious, though, as Qipco British Champions Day made little difference to the final standings in the table, despite points from two bonus races being on offer.

In the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes it was those teams who added Baaeed to their squads in the transfer window who picked up the 54.35 bonus points, while loyal followers of runner-up Palace Pier, including MyCatChip, still gained 13.15 points to maintain the status quo among the leading teams and on the leaderboard, where Palace Pier consolidated seventh place among the top ten horses.

In the Champion Stakes, the bonus 67.95 points went to the 79 teams who included Sealiway in their lists, with Derby winner Adayar, who had been such a key player for the leading teams, out of the frame.

Sealiway and Mickael Barzalona (left) hold off Dubai Honour and James Doyle to win the Champion StakesCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

There were also Champions Day points for Trueshan, who took the Long Distance Cup for a second time to the tune of 22.66 points, and Eshaada who added 49.85 points to her tally for victory in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes for Shadwell and Roger Varian.

Apart from Palace Pier, only Snowfall among the top ten on the leaderboard collected points, just 1.05 for her third in the Fillies & Mares Stakes. That set of results was enough for longtime leader MyCatChip to secure the title as the 2021 Flat Tote Ten To Follow champion with 853.50 points, thanks largely to the inclusion of St Mark’s Basilica and Hurricane Lane.

With Cheltenham ready to reopen its doors on Friday, the focus turns to the winter competition, with entries for the Ten To Follow for the jumps season opening next Monday, October 25, with a Racing Post supplement, entry guide and expert advice.

TOP HORSES
1 Torquator Tasso 186.20 points
2 St Mark’s Basilica 168.20
3 Hurricane Lane 168.15
4 Snowfall 167.08
5 Poetic Flare 131.85
6 Adayar 129.75
7 Palace Pier 120.48
8 Winter Power 101.50
9 Mother Earth 97.90
10 Alcohol Free 91.00

FINAL TABLE
1 MyCatChip 853.50 points
2 Farleys flyers 837.96
3 MyCatChip 829.72
4 Abwah23 827.97
5 Farleys flyers 809.60
6 A39 807.65
7 Pollydot06 805.81
8 MyCatChip 797.11
9 MK’s 18 795.81
10 M17 792.91

WINNING STABLE - MyCatChip
St Mark’s Basilica 168.20 points
Hurricane Lane 168.15
Adayar 129.75
Palace Pier 120.48
Love 55.21
Mishriff 53.75
Snowfall 29.46
Lope Y Fernandez 14.80
Thunder Moon 3.00
High Definition 1.30

Read more on the Tote Ten To Follow:

Torquator Tasso brushes aside St Mark's Basilica to fly to the top of the table

Baaeed bags valuable points for believers who brought him in at transfer time

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