Tote Ten to Follow is a fantasy horse racing competition in which players select a stable of ten horses and earn points from their performances during the season.
The jumps competition follows major National Hunt racing in Britain and Ireland, including the winter Grade 1 programme and the spring festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree. Choosing a stable involves assessing which horses are likely to run regularly, which races they may contest and how the competition awards points.
The 2026/27 entry deadline, prize fund, entry fee, scoring rules and transfer arrangements must be checked against Tote’s official competition terms when they are published. Previous seasons’ rules are useful background, but they should not be treated as the conditions for a new competition.
This guide explains how Ten to Follow works, how to approach your selections and which details to check before submitting a stable.
What Is Tote Ten to Follow?
Tote Ten to Follow is a season-long fantasy racing game. Players select ten horses from the competition’s eligible list and collect points when those horses achieve qualifying results.
The aim is to build a stable that scores well across the competition period rather than to identify the winner of a single race.
The game has traditionally included paid and free-to-play competitions, with separate terms and prizes. The available formats for 2026/27 should be confirmed on the official Tote competition page.
Ten to Follow differs from an ordinary horse racing bet. You are selecting a group of horses whose results contribute to a running total over several months. The scoring rules, rather than the starting prices of individual horses, determine your position on the leaderboard.
Tote Ten to Follow 2026/27: Key Details
The following details should be confirmed before entering the 2026/27 jumps competition.
| Competition detail | 2026/27 status |
|---|---|
| Entry opening date | Awaiting confirmation in the official terms |
| Entry deadline | Awaiting confirmation in the official terms |
| Paid entry fee | Awaiting confirmation in the official terms |
| Free-to-play competition | Check availability and eligibility |
| Prize fund | Awaiting confirmation in the official terms |
| Eligible horses | Check the official competition list |
| Points and bonus races | Check the published scoring rules |
| Transfer window | Check the published dates and allowance |
Tote’s previous jumps competitions have used a ten-horse stable, a points system based on race results and a transfer window during the season. The precise arrangements can change.
Check the official Tote website before paying an entry fee or submitting a stable.
How to Enter Tote Ten to Follow
The entry process is completed through Tote’s competition platform.
You will need to check that the competition is open, that you meet the eligibility requirements and that your account is verified where required.
The usual process is to open the competition, choose the eligible horses for your stable, review the selections and submit the entry before the deadline.
If paid and free competitions are both available, check which one you are entering. They may have different prize arrangements or entry limits.
Do not assume that a standard Tote welcome offer or Tote Credit can be used to pay for a Ten to Follow entry. Promotional credits have product restrictions, and the competition’s payment rules must be checked separately.
How to Pick Your Tote Ten to Follow Horses
A Ten to Follow stable needs horses that can score across the season. Selecting ten well-known names without considering their likely programmes can leave a stable short of runners when important races take place.
The starting point is the competition’s scoring rules. A horse targeting several qualifying races may have more opportunities to earn points than one being prepared for a single spring target.
The balance of the stable matters too. A group dominated by staying chasers could score heavily in that division but miss opportunities in hurdle races and shorter-distance chases.
Start with likely race targets
Look at each horse’s intended programme and the races it is suited to contest.
A staying chaser may be aimed at races such as the Betfair Chase, King George VI Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup.
A two-mile chaser has a different programme, potentially including the Tingle Creek and Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The important question is not how many major races a horse could enter. It is which races its connections are likely to target and whether those races fall within the competition period.
Consider the number of scoring opportunities
A horse with a realistic programme of several qualifying races can offer repeated scoring opportunities.
However, more runs do not automatically mean more points. A horse that contests races beyond its ability may score less than one whose connections choose a smaller number of suitable targets.
Assess the likely level of opposition and the horse’s record at the relevant distance, track and going.
Balance hurdles and chases
A jumps stable should reflect the opportunities available across the competition’s race programme.
Staying chasers, two-mile chasers, hurdlers and novice horses have different seasonal targets. The scoring rules will determine how much weight to give each category.
Avoid filling the stable with horses whose main targets clash unless you are comfortable with the possibility that they will compete against one another.
Account for fitness and soundness
A horse’s ability matters only when it gets to the racecourse.
Check recent runs, the trainer’s comments and any confirmed changes to a horse’s programme. A high-profile horse returning from a long absence carries different uncertainty from one that has completed a recent preparation.
Do not treat an intended target as a confirmed entry. Plans can change because of fitness, ground conditions and the availability of suitable races.
Leave room for improving horses
Established Grade 1 performers are easier to assess because they have already demonstrated their level.
An improving novice can also become an important scorer if it progresses through suitable races. The difficulty is identifying its likely discipline, trip and targets before the season develops.
A balanced stable can include proven performers and horses with scope to improve, provided each selection has a credible route to qualifying races.
Tote Ten to Follow Horse Selections for 2026/27
The official eligible-horse list and the current plans of leading trainers should determine the final selections.
The following sections identify the types of horses to assess rather than presenting an unverified list of ten current entries.
Staying chasers
Staying chasers can have several important races during the winter and spring.
The Betfair Chase, King George VI Chase, Irish Gold Cup and Cheltenham Gold Cup are among the races that can shape the staying-chase division. The actual bonus-race list for Ten to Follow must be checked against the current rules.
When comparing horses in this category, consider their preferred ground, record over three miles or further and whether their connections are likely to pursue a British or Irish programme.
A horse with a clear route through the season may offer more scoring opportunities than one whose participation depends on a single target.
Two-mile chasers
The two-mile chase division centres on speed, accurate jumping and the ability to maintain that pace under pressure.
The Tingle Creek and Queen Mother Champion Chase are important races to consider when assessing likely targets.
A horse that is effective on a range of ground conditions may have more options during the winter, although the trainer’s intended programme remains the deciding factor.
Hurdlers
Leading hurdlers may contest important races before the Cheltenham Festival and then continue to Aintree or Punchestown.
Consider the difference between two-mile hurdlers and staying hurdlers. Their targets and opposition are not interchangeable.
A horse’s previous form at the relevant distance is more useful than assuming that every high-class hurdler will contest the same spring races.
Novice horses
Novices can develop quickly during a National Hunt season, but their programmes may remain uncertain until they have completed their early runs.
A horse may stay over hurdles, switch to fences or move up in distance. Those decisions affect which qualifying races it can contest.
Wait for evidence from the track and confirmed trainer plans before treating a novice as a central part of a stable.
Tote Ten to Follow Points Scoring
Ten to Follow points are awarded according to the competition’s published rules.
Previous jumps competitions have awarded different points for wins at different race grades and additional points in specified bonus races. The exact points and eligible races for 2026/27 must be confirmed from the current terms.
Before choosing a stable, establish how points are awarded for wins and placed finishes, whether starting price affects the score and which races carry bonuses.
These details can change the value of a selection. A horse with several suitable bonus-race targets may be more attractive under one scoring structure than another.
Do not use a previous season’s points table to calculate a 2026/27 score unless Tote confirms that the rules are unchanged.
What Are Tote Ten to Follow Bonus Races?
Bonus races are designated events in which the competition awards additional points under its rules.
Previous jumps competitions have included major races at Haydock, Newbury, Sandown, Kempton, Leopardstown, Cheltenham and Aintree.
The exact list is important because it influences the type of horses worth selecting. A stable built around races that do not carry bonuses may be at a disadvantage if the current rules place substantial weight on those events.
Check the official list before making selections. Race sponsorships and names can change, and an event included in an earlier competition is not automatically a bonus race in 2026/27.
Tote Ten to Follow Transfers and Substitutions
A transfer window allows players to change eligible horses in their stable during the season, subject to the competition’s rules.
Previous competitions have allowed a limited number of substitutions. The 2026/27 dates and allowance need official confirmation.
A transfer can be useful when a selected horse is injured, changes its intended programme or has fewer scoring opportunities than expected.
The decision should still be based on the races remaining in the competition. A horse that has scored well early in the season may have fewer suitable targets left than one approaching its main spring programme.
Check when transfers take effect and whether a replacement horse can score in a race on the same day as the substitution.
What Is Tote Ten to Follow Smart Pick?
Previous versions of Ten to Follow have offered a Smart Pick feature that helps players fill their stable.
An automated selection can be a starting point, particularly for someone unfamiliar with the full eligible-horse list. It should not replace checking the competition rules or the likely programmes of the selected horses.
If Smart Pick is available for 2026/27, review every horse it selects before submitting the entry. A balanced stable still depends on the races those horses are likely to contest.
How to Check Your Tote Ten to Follow Points
The competition leaderboard shows how stables are performing as qualifying results are recorded.
Check your stable through the official Tote competition platform. The leaderboard should identify the points awarded to your horses and your position in the relevant competition.
Allow for the time needed to confirm race results and update scores. If a total appears incorrect, compare it with the current scoring rules and the official result before contacting Tote.
Common Tote Ten to Follow Selection Mistakes
One common mistake is selecting horses entirely on reputation. A leading horse may be talented but have a limited programme or face uncertainty about its next run.
Another is concentrating too heavily on one division. If several selections contest the same races, they cannot all win those events.
Outdated information is also a problem. A previous season’s most-selected horses table does not show which runners are suitable for the current competition. Horses change disciplines, suffer setbacks and retire.
Finally, do not ignore the transfer rules. If substitutions are permitted, their timing should be considered when planning the stable. A horse selected for the first half of the season may not be the one you want for the spring festivals.
Tote Ten to Follow FAQs
Is Tote Ten to Follow running in 2026/27?
Check Tote’s official competition page for confirmation that the 2026/27 jumps competition is open and for its current terms. Previous seasons’ details should not be treated as confirmation of the new competition.
How many horses do you choose in Ten to Follow?
The traditional Ten to Follow format uses a stable of ten horses. Check the current competition rules before submitting an entry.
How much does Tote Ten to Follow cost?
Previous paid jumps competitions have charged an entry fee, while separate free-to-play formats have also been offered. The 2026/27 fee and available formats need to be confirmed in the official terms.
What is the Tote Ten to Follow 2026/27 prize fund?
The 2026/27 prize fund should be taken from Tote’s published competition terms. Do not assume that a previous season’s guaranteed fund applies to the new competition.
When is the Tote Ten to Follow entry deadline?
The 2026/27 deadline needs official confirmation. Check it before making selections, particularly if you plan to wait for early-season trainer updates.
Can I enter more than one stable?
Entry limits depend on the competition. Paid and free-to-play formats may have different rules, so check the permitted number of entries for each.
Can I change my horses during the season?
Previous competitions have offered a transfer window with a limited number of substitutions. Check the 2026/27 rules for the dates, allowance and when changes take effect.
Do horses earn points for finishing second?
The treatment of placed finishes depends on the scoring rules. Check the current points table before assessing the value of horses that regularly finish in the frame.
Are Cheltenham and Aintree races included?
Previous jumps competitions have featured major races at Cheltenham and Aintree. The current competition’s eligible races and bonus-race list must be checked in the official rules.
Can I use Tote Credit to enter Ten to Follow?
Do not assume that Tote Credit can be used to pay a competition entry fee. Promotional credits can have restrictions, and the relevant Tote Credit and Ten to Follow terms must both permit the transaction.
Summary
Tote Ten to Follow is a fantasy racing competition built around selecting ten horses and collecting points from their performances during the season.
A strong stable starts with the current scoring rules and a realistic assessment of each horse’s likely programme. Race targets, fitness, the balance between hurdles and chases, and any permitted transfers all affect the selection process.
Before entering the 2026/27 jumps competition, confirm the official entry deadline, fee, prize fund, eligible horses, bonus races and transfer arrangements. Do not rely on terms or popularity figures carried over from an earlier season.
