Verse and Bell have 8 to Follow impact

Stakes race victories for Simple Verse (pictured below) and Mountain Bell in the past week have resulted in another shake up at the head of Qatar Racing's 8 to Follow competition.

David Jewers, who has led the way for much of the season, went clear at the top when Simple Verse won Doncaster's Gr.2 Park Hill Stakes, while some of his nearest rivals were shuffled down the table by other competitors who included the Ralph Beckett-trained filly in their 8 to Follow stables.

Mountain Bell has been nothing like as popular as her stablemate, Simple Verse, in terms of selection for the competition, but her Listed-race win at Chester on Saturday resulted in EmmaM moving up the table. EmmaM is the only competitor in the top ten who has Mountain Bell on her side, and she will be pleased to know the filly has emerged in good order from her Chester exertions.

Mountain Bell is now a possible contender for the Gr.1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes at Ascot on October 15, which is the final day of the 2016 Qatar Racing 8 to Follow competition.

Jewers is safe in the top spot for a few days at least, but third-placed Dhgdale Family could join him if Naval Warfare were to run and win at Ayr on Friday or Newbury on Saturday. Trainer Andrew Balding has yet to make a decision about declaring the colt, who finished second on his most recent run at Ffos Las in July. The winner, Maths Prize, has scored since and ran well when third at Doncaster last week.

All profits from Qatar Racing's 8 to Follow competition are given to the charity Racing Welfare.

To see the latest leaderboard, click on the 8 to Follow logo on the home page of this website.

Photo of Simple Verse winning the Park Hill Stakes: Dan Abraham