I'm going to cause my friend to drop out of the top ten of the batch
Why do you want to cause your friend to drop out?
Because I don't want them there. I'm not afraid to tell the truth.
It is important to be honest but there is such as thing as tact and it is not good to hurt your friend in the pursuit of being honest. It could ruin your friendship.
What are you saying, I am never going to be dishonest.
I understand you have your own personal reasoning for wanting them out of the top 10 batch. But doing that to your friend is going to be very hurtful towards them. I recommend you let it go and let him be happy.