Graeme Rodway: keeping it simple can pay off in search of bonus points

It doesn’t usually pay to stray too far from the obvious when it comes to the jumps Ten To Follow. The same horses tend to come back year after year and, such is the patience with which a lot of them are handled nowadays, they are capable of repeating previous form.

You can enter the Tote Ten To Follow here

The bonus races will be the key and finding as many winners of those as you can is always the best strategy. There are 21 in this season’s competition and they span most of the major divisions in Britain and Ireland. Cover them with horses from both sides of the Irish Sea.

will probably dominate the two-mile chase division in Britain. He was outstanding last season, but there are some high-quality two-mile chasers around. It’ll still be a surprise if he can’t make the step up, but it might be worth throwing into your ten, just in case.

Greaneteen was progressing rapidly at the end of last season. He would have finished closer than fourth in the Champion Chase but for a mistake three out and then being carried right on the run-in, and he proved he was unlucky by winning the Celebration Chase at Sandown.

How to play the Tote Ten To Follow

Novice chasers can be rich sources of points and Galopin Des Champs is likely to go over fences this season. He won the Martin Pipe Hurdle well at the festival and improved again to land a Grade 1 at Punchestown. If he doesn’t make the grade chasing he will be a staying hurdler.

ran away with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and already looks the likely Arkle winner, despite not having jumped a fence in public. He is built for chasing and can brush everything aside.

Bob Olinger might also go chasing and he looked a superstar when winning the Ballymore at Cheltenham by a wide margin. He will be hard to beat wherever he goes, hurdles or fences.

is an outstanding win-machine of a mare and there’s no point looking for anything to beat her in the Champion Hurdle. She will probably dominate another season.

Similar comments apply for Allaho. He doesn’t stay three miles and isn’t quick enough for two, but there won’t be anything who can touch him over two-and-a-half judged on last season’s Ryanair victory. He is in a class of his own at that distance and should dominate.

It was a travesty of justice that didn’t win the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March. He flew home but was undone by a tactical race, losing out to stablemate Sir Gerhard. Kilcruit proved that all wrong when winning at Punchestown and is a classy hurdling prospect.

Last season’s Gold Cup went to Minella Indo, but A Plus Tardfinished faster than the winner and, at seven, is a year younger. Provided that hard race hasn’t taken the edge off him, A Plus Tard should be capable of building on that run and might go one better in next year’s race.

The staying hurdle division doesn’t look strong and impressed when winning the Cesarewitch on the Flat at Newmarket this month. He finished second in a Grade 1 hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National meeting last season and should improve when upped to three miles.

Finally, I’m convinced last season’s Martin Pipe was strong and was tempted by runner-up Langer Dan as well. However, I found it hard to see any bonus races for him and that was the drawback. If you fancy taking a chance on a wildcard, you could do worse than the Dan Skelton-trained five-year-old.

GRAEME RODWAY'S TEN TO FOLLOW
Allaho
A Plus Tard
Appreciate It
Bob Olinger
Buzz
Galopin Des Champs
Greaneteen
Honeysuckle
Kilcruit
Shishkin

Read more on the Tote Ten To Follow:

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

Racing Post Live is your ultimate racingwatchalong every Saturday and during major festivals. Our experts offer uninterrupted tips, analysis and reactions to the ITV action. Subscribe to the Racing Post YouTube channel here and never miss a minute