Get involved with Qatar Racing’s 8 to Follow

Qatar Racing has opened its 8 to Follow competition for 2016, offering a first prize of £10,000 to the winner, and, once again, sending all proceeds from entries to Racing Welfare, the charity that looks after racing’s people in need.

Every penny from every £10 entry fee goes to Racing Welfare, and the entrant who picks the eight horses from under the Qatar Racing and Pearl Bloodstock umbrellas that score the most points during the season will win the bumper first prize. There are cash prizes down to fifth place and the three leading entries approaching the final day are invited, with a guest, to lunch at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day, October 15, the richest day in British racing.

A full list of eligible horses can be found at 8tofollow.co.uk, which will be updated during the season to keep contestants informed of their points score and position in the table. The website also offers suggestions from people involved with Qatar Racing, including Sheikh Fahad and jockeys Oisin Murphy and Colin Keane.

Among the older horses expected to feature prominently this season are St Leger heroine, Simple Verse, as well as Arod, Endless Drama, Elm Park, Lightning Spear, Pearl Secret and Strath Burn. The three year-old crop includes Classic entry Bleu de Vega and the very promising La Rioja, while among the juveniles is the first foal out of Group 1 winner Lightening Pearl, a colt by Frankel.

The Qatar Racing 8 to Follow competition runs from QIPCO 2000 Guineas day at Newmarket on April 30 through to QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on October 15. Entries close on Friday 29 April.