Three Days until 8 to Follow closes, follow Arod at Ascot
Arod is the top-rated horse on today's card at Ascot, and another one to watch for 8 to Follow competition players.
A top-class miler, who made Solow work for victory in last year's Gr.1 Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, Arod begins his season's campaign at Listed level in the Stratford Place Stud Paradise Stakes (16.30).
Oisin Murphy rides the five-year-old in a race for the first time, although he has teamed up with him in work from Peter Chapple-Hyam's Newmarket stable. The trainer says of Arod, "He looks a million dollars".
The Gr.1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 14 could be next on Arod's agenda if he runs well today, and with that in mind he is likely to be a popular entry in Qatar Racing's 8 to Follow competition, which opens on Saturday, QIPCO 2000 Guineas day.
BUT REMEMBER, ENTRIES CLOSE ON FRIDAY (April 29) AT MIDNIGHT . . .
White Poppy scored tidily at Wolverhampton last night, suggesting she could pick up points when the competition opens, while Pearl Spectre (Ascot 17.00) and Lime And Lemon (Wolverhampton 17.10) are two other horses running on the Flat today. Meanwhile, Pearl Bloodstock's Current Event, who is also on the list of horses, runs at Cheltenham this evening (18.25).
To take part in the competition, simply pick eight horses from among those trained in Europe for Qatar Racing, Pearl Bloodstock, or associated partnerships, and each time a selected horse wins or is placed in any race around the world, it gains points. The person whose eight horses have amassed the most points at the competition's end, QIPCO British Champions' Day at Ascot on Saturday, October 15, scoops the £10,000 first prize. There are also cash sums down to fifth place.
Remember: there are extra points for wins and places in Stakes (Group, Graded or Listed) races, and you must select four two-year-olds.
Full details, including the list of horses, can be found by clicking on the 8 to Follow logos on this website, or by going to www.8tofollow.co.uk. At that site there are also tips from experts on how to put together a winning stable. You can enter as many times as you like, each entry costs £10, and every tenner goes to the charity Racing Welfare.