Tight at top in 8 to Follow

Qatar Racing's 8 to Follow competition has joint-pace setters after Amandat drew level with David Jewers yesterday afternoon.

Velveteen finished third at Navan, earning 5pts for Amandat's stable, and taking it to a total of 260pts, level with Jewers.

Meanwhile, War Of Succession's runner-up spot at Kempton gained 10pts for Alex Lowe's stable, enabling her to move up into third place in the Qatar Racing 8 to Follow table with a total of 250pts.

A £10,000 first prize is at stake, although there are cash sums down to fifth place the competition closes on October 15, when Ascot stages QIPCO British Champions Day.

Doncaster's feature race meeting takes place over four days this week, starting on Wednesday, and results there could well see a further shuffling in the pack.

Jewers, who has led the competition for much of the summer, will be hoping Simple Verse gets the go-ahead to run, and that she returns to her sparkling form of last autumn. The Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old, having enjoyed a summer break, holds engagements in Thursday's Park Hill Stakes and Friday's Doncaster Cup.

Being Group 2 races Simple Verse would earn a valuable 40pts for her stables if successful in either contest, and since she was also selected by fourth Rob Middlemiss, fifth Dhgdale Family and sixth Simon Allen she could have a big influence on the 8 to Follow table by the end of the week.