Thyme Hill tilts the balance as Tipperwood takes up the running at crucial stage

Aintree provided the stage for Rachael Blackmore's landmark Grand National victory last weekend and a defining three days for the Tote Ten To Follow competition with 11 horses scoring points and changing the complexion of the race for the £104,000 first prize.

With two weeks of the competition to run, the Tipperwood team now holds pole position thanks to the victory of Thyme Hill in the Stayers Hurdle on Saturday, nudging into second the Mild Illusion team of longtime Ten To Follow player Dick Fellows-Smith.

He had regained the lead only on Thursday thanks to the success of Abacadabras in the Aintree Hurdle. That was the top-scoring performance of the week, yielding 57.5 points for 6,198 stables.

While Minella Times may have taken the headlines, he was only Aintree’s third biggest scorer, earning 55.3 points for four stables, while runner-up Balko Des Flos picked up bonus points totalling 36.8.

Abacadabras: the biggest Ten To Follow points scorer last week in landing the Aintree HurdleCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images)

Clan Des Obeauux provided 54.6 points for 10,747 stables when winning the Betway Bowl, while Fakir D'Oudairies ended his run of seconds in the Melling Chase to earn 54.3 points for 2,769 stables.

Crucially, Thyme Hill, under a fine ride from Tom O’Brien, saw off Roksana (13.6 points) to bring 55.5 points to 4,723 supporters.

Protektorat, largely unfancied in the Tote win pool (38.2 points, 430 stables), Chantry House (28.3 points, 2,135 stables) and Shishkin (27.12 points, 20,790 stables) won novice chases, and the latter became the competition's second-highest scorer behind Honeysuckle.

Another potential star, My Drogo, blitzed his rivals in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle for 28.4 points, while Happygolucky picked up 19.5 points for 18 stables in the handicap chase before the National.

Away from Liverpool, the irrepressible Henry de Bromhead scored at Wexford on Friday with Ornua in a veterans’ chase, which brought 15.2 points for six stables.

There are just two more opportunities to land bonus points, starting with the Scottish Grand National on Sunday before attentions turn to Sandown for the season finale and the bet365 Gold Cup.

LEADING HORSES

1 Honeysuckle 132.94 points
2 Shishkin 132.72
3 Monkfish 119.08
4 Abacadabras 102.92
5 My Drogo 98.60
6 Appreciate It 95.46
7 Colreevy 91.82
8 Chantry House 91.40
9 Minella Indo 83.30
10 Put The Kettle On 82.60

LEADING TEAMS
1 Tipperwood 860.32 points
2 Mild Illusion 848.52
3 Hurricane Heights 23 847.36
4 Hurricane Heights 20 837.66
5 Grizz 826.44
6 Hurricane Heights 17 825.76
7 Grizz 824.64
8 Grizz 821.46
9 Melrose Place two 820.58
10 Hurricane Heights 14 816.06

LEADING STABLE - Tipperwood
Honeysuckle 132.94 points
Shishkin 132.72
Monkfish 119.08
Minella Indo 83.30
Put The Kettle On 82.60
Chacun Pour Soi -76.74
Fakir D’Oudairies 68.20
Thyme Hill 55.50
Epatante 30.03
Fury Road 23.32

Read more:

Hurricane Heights blasts to the top with some Fairyhouse magic from Janidil

Mild Illusion does the trick again for Ten To Follow's keenest fan Fellows-Smith

Goshen delivers at last as faithful followers join Moores in sigh of relief

Top points scorer Honeysuckle has major effect on pursuit of Ten To Follow prize

Shishkin delivers £10,000 monthly Ten To Follow prize for Fantastico Lobos

First Flow sweeps up the charts as he becomes season's second-highest scorer

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