“I’m 49 now, I suppose I've been playing for about 30 years, since it started really.” A lifetime ambition comes true for the newest Ten To Follow Flat champion, Christopher Perry, as he scoops over £24,000 in victory.
The Belfast man has been a long supporter and player of the Ten To Follow and managed to land the top prize with The Loki Lads 9, but also had a stable that finished in sixth place.
“I used to buy the Racing Post when the (Ten To Follow) competition first started,” he said. “I can’t even remember what year it was but it would've been the early 90s.
“It was just postal entries only, so I would've compiled my list and sent off my form with my postal order and I was only young really, I was 18, 19, or 20 when I first started playing.”
Local to Down Royal racecourse in Northern Ireland, Perry’s victorious stable amassed 832.28 points with a team that included Ballydoyle’s Auguste Rodin and Paddington and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Ace Impact.
“I suppose the key is targeting the bonus races, I tried to have at least one horse for every bonus race in the first part of the season,” he said.
“I follow the news, subscribe to Racing Post, follow the entries and use a tracker.”
Ahead going into the final day, the Loki Lads had several members the stable not declared to race on Ascot’s Champions day card and Perry did doubt whether could hold on to win, he said: “The gambler in me, looking at it rationally, thought that I was an odds-on favourite to win.
“I did get a bit worried when Emily Upjohn got pulled out of the mares race because that was a big differential for me.”
“Kinross was a danger but I don’t think it would’ve been disastrous with the SP but the biggest danger was Chaldean - that would’ve been game, set and match if he had’ve won.”
Perry, an Ecologist, turned down praise and endearment when talking to the Tote, he said: “It’s been a long process to get to this point, it takes a lot of luck as well with injuries and stuff.”
“I’ve played both Ten To Follow Flat and Jumps but I’m definitely more of a Flat fan, I haven’t had much luck over the Jumps.”
For his effort Perry has now netted over £24,000 for his first placed team and over £1,000 for his admirable sixth placed stable, but how will he spend the money?
“Well, I’ve just recently bought a house and just moved so there are a lot of expenses,” he said.
“I’ll probably put a bit of money towards the mortgage and some furniture, I’ll be quite sensible with the rest, probably put it in the savings.”
As for the upcoming Ten To Follow Jumps, which has a larger prize pool, Perry said: “I’ve got to play it now I think.”
He continued, “My uncle is more of a Jumps fan, he’ll help me out with a few of the Jumps selections.
“I suppose I have to put in Galopin Des Champs, Constitution Hill must be a banker as well, but they’re obvious choices.
“I’ll have to do a bit of study and research. I always put in a novice chaser and a novice hurdler as well to rack up the points. And, potentially an unexposed handicapper… a few Willie Mullins horses in there, they seem to dominate recently.”
As for his expertise in the Flat sphere, Perry shared one horse that will be making his team next year. He said: “At the stage definitely City Of Troy as long as he stays injury free, I think he looks the real deal for the Guineas and potentially the Derby.”
The Loki Lads could be here to stay in the Ten To Follow ranks, but where does the name come from? Perry revealed: “So my dog is called Loki, so I've used that name for a few years now - it’s brought me luck anyway.”
Excited for the Ten To Follow Jumps to start? Entries open 11am on 31st October.
Final Leaderboard Result
- Loki Lads 9 - 832.28
- Cap Juluca 42 - 801.47
- Q3 - 791.10
- Godders - 788.33
- AF6 - 783.10
- Loki Lads 4 - 779.23
- Uns56 - 777.62
- Stan20 - 776.08
- THE PLANT 12 - 776.08
- K1 - 769.48
Winning Stable
Loki Lads 9 - 832.28
Auguste Rodin - 164.31
Paddington - 158.88
Tahiyra - 82.42
Inspiral - 78.21
Highfield Princess - 68.90
Hukum - 59.60
Ace Impact - 54.60
Mostahdaf - 54.20
Savethelastdance - 42.45
Emily Upjohn - 42.25
