Racing Post | David Milnes : 30th March 2026

Your Darling teed up a possible trip to Punchestown when completing a double for Ben Pauling in the feature 3m handicap chase.


The 9-4 favourite provided the Naunton trainer with his 90th winner of the season and took Ben Jones's tally to 96.

​Always travelling best off a pace set by outsider Lounge Lizard, Your Darling took command four out and went on to defeat market rival Beachcomber by 14 lengths. 


Pauling said: "He likes going right-handed and we were a bit worried about the tighter track but he's done it well. There's a chase at Punchestown that might suit him."


Fergal O'Brien's bid to win the opening 2m novice hurdle for the second year running ended when his fancied runner Snatch A Glance fell when challenging at the third last.


That left the door open for the Pauling-trained 2-1 favourite Jimbo Sport to score by a nose under Callum Pritchard.
Pauling said: "We were delighted with that. He won nicely at Newcastle last time but he showed different qualities to get up and get his head in front. 


"We'll see what the handicapper does but we could look at something like the Swinton Hurdle. He likes this better ground so there's no reason why he can't progress further this spring."

'He’s been talked up recently, more by the Irish than anyone else, but he’s got a profile similar to last year's winner Haiti Couleurs'

Ben Pauling is hoping Irish National favourite The Jukebox Kid can fly the flag for Britain on Easter Monday

Racing Post | Maddy Playle: 29th March 2026

Ben Pauling believes his BoyleSports Irish Grand National favourite The Jukebox Kid could not be in better form as the trainer prepares to attempt an audacious National double.

He added to his Cheltenham Festival tally when saddling Meetmebythesea to win the Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase this month and is targeting another big prize at Fairyhouse on April 6.

The Jukebox Kid, a comfortable winner of the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase, has come in for market support in recent weeks and is 8-1 favourite to make it back-to-back victories for British trainers in as many years following Haiti Couleurs 12 months ago.
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Pauling believes the pair share several qualities, saying: "He couldn’t be better. He has a very progressive novice profile; he’s inexperienced for the race having only run six times in his life, but if he gets into a rhythm he’s the sort of horse that keeps finding plenty. I think he’ll stay very well.

"He’s been talked up recently, more by the Irish than anyone else, but he’s got a profile similar to Haiti Couleurs last year. I’m not surprised he’s fancied, whether he should be favourite, time will tell. 

"I’ve had my eye on the race since he beat Montregard at Ascot in January. I thought that was a good performance and I think he’s better right-handed than left at the moment. This looked like the obvious option over the National Hunt Chase."

Pauling is waiting to see if his Becher Chase winner Twig will secure a run in the Randox Grand National at Aintree. The 11-year-old, a 66-1 chance, needs three horses to be taken out of the race to get a run and after two wins from two starts over fences this season, Pauling is confident he can improve on last year's tenth behind Nick Rockett.


"Hopefully he'll get in," he said. "We still need three to come out. Some people think it’ll happen but I’m on the other side, I think when you get to this stage everybody that’s in the 34 is going to be desperately keen to run. 


"The Irish National may pull a few out because there’s more of a tussle for the championship over that side of the Irish Sea, and that might mean that a few of the Irish horses end up there rather than at Aintree.


"He’s in better form than he was last year and he had a lovely prep run the other day at Uttoxeter. He’s two from two this season in the Becher and Masters Chase. I’m very happy with him physically and he’s moving well. 
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"It’s a very big ask, but I do think he can be more competitive than he was last year if he's ridden more positively. He's the sort of horse that would have had a cracking chance ten years ago."

Congratulations to Forty Winks Racing with Nice One Eric's win at Southwell today. The team purchased Eric and another, Stan as foals so have been on a patient journey with the duo. When you've been waiting a few years the win feels all that more special. Aptly named, Nice One Eric! 

With Welsh Jockey in the saddle, and Welsh Rider / Groom - Dandy made sure to get his nose in front at Ffos Las. A brilliant moment for this tough little cookie who always gives his all. Huge congratulations to owners and all connections. 

Rices Pool kicks off his career under rules with a brilliant debut display at Taunton. Congratulations to Mrs L Maclennan. The win gives Ben Jones and the team a racecard double. 

Wheresmemoneygone really does jump for fun! Given a great spin from Ben Jones, Money takes Ben to his highest number of winners in a season yet! Huge congratulations to all connections including his doting groom Julie. 

Pauling assembling a strong supporting cast for Cheltenham.
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At The Races | Monday 23rd February 2026

Ben Pauling is taking his strongest ever team to the Cheltenham Festival next month, as alongside Gold Cup hope The Jukebox Man plenty of others heading there from his nearby Naunton base with live chances.


Mares’ Chase hopeful Diva Luna is looking to put a setback before an intended outing in the Scilly Isles Chase behind her, while Handstands bounced back to something like his best at Windsor.


With the likes of No Questions Asked, Personal Ambition, Pic Roc, Vanderpoel and novice hurdlers such as Taurus Bay and Mondoui’boy all in the mix, Pauling is set for a busy week.

“Diva Luna whacked a joint the week before the Scilly Isles,” said Pauling. “We chucked her in the spa for 10 days and she’s just come alive and goes there with a good chance, though I will need to get some proper work into her.

“She had two and a half weeks off but went for a gallop at Warwick on Friday after which, as you would expect, she took a good blow. She needs a couple more bits of good work and that should put her right for the mares’ chase. She has a good record at Cheltenham.

​”No Questions Asked won the Lightning Novices’ Chase at Windsor, his first run over two miles since switching to fences.

“He’s had a brilliant season, but it was a very odd race at Windsor where they went so fast and he came and got up on the line,” said Pauling.

“It depends on the mood of the owners whether we go for the Arkle, the Johnny Henderson (Grand Annual), for which he’s short, or the Plate. But I’m sweet on him and he’s in very good nick.
“How that form will work out, I don’t know, but the way this horse is ridden you could nick a place in a big one.”

Handstands gave Protektorat a race last time out before fading into third and options remain open for him.
“Handstands has come alive since the Fleur De Lys,” said Pauling.

“We went to the Betfair where he travelled and jumped and at the last down the back I thought Grey Dawning had a fight on his hands, but in the straight he lugged left. Tim Radford (owner) was adamant we should get his wind checked so we lasered his soft palate.

“He worked in Lambourn, after which I was keen to go the the Denman and Tim to the Windsor race. Jumping two out he had Protektorat under pressure.

“He worked well at Warwick on Friday night and has come out of it like a bull in a china shop. If the Ryanair cut up a bit he would be competitive and I might even put a pair of cheekpieces on.

“I think he’s a three-miler and will stay as far as we want him to stay. The positive in the Ryanair option is that he could jump and travel in a small field.
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“I’m sure he will be near the top of the weights in the Ultima, but I could be swayed. Let’s see.”

Mambonumberfive had been a revelation over fences until running no sort of race in the Kingmaker at Warwick behind Steel Ally.

“Obviously we were all disappointed with Warwick,” said Pauling. “He’d been so progressive earlier in the season and I blame myself for running him too many times as a young horse.

“But he came out of it well, and a much wiser man than me told me it was simply that jumping was his asset and while before he was making five lengths at his fences, at Warwick he was losing six lengths at every fence.

“He’s in the Arkle, the Jack Richards, the Grand Annual and the Plate and I don’t know where he’s going, but if he doesn’t run it will be the two-and-a-half-mile race at Aintree.”

One horse who should run in the Grand Annual is Vanderpoel, impressive at Ascot and Sandown the last twice.

“Vanderpoel is really on the up and up and is a horse I like,” said Pauling. “He delighted me at Ascot and Sandown and I think deserves to be towards the head of the market in the Grand Annual.”

Pauling mentioned Pic Roc “should be competitive” in the National Hunt Chase, while Personal Ambition, impressive at Newbury last time out, had the option of the Grand Annual. The Jukebox Kid could miss Cheltenham, though, with Pauling setting his sights on the Irish National at Fairyhouse.

Mondoui’boy went into a lot of notebooks when he bolted up at Ascot recently and he has the option of the Turners Novices’ Hurdle or the Albert Bartlett.

Pauling said: “Ludlow was grand and Ascot was good, but it seems he has just come alive. He’s in the Turners and the Albert Bartlett, but I’m not certain he’s an Albert Bartlett horse. If it ended up being soft on the New course it would concern me. He wouldn’t want a slog.”

Taurus Bay went down narrowly in the gloom at Cheltenham on Trials day, but his attendance is not set in stone.
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“He’s in the Turners, I took him out of the Supreme, he’s very talented but still a shell of a horse. Even though he’s in the Turners I need to see a little bit more condition on him before we roll the dice,” said Pauling.

Jimbo Sport really dug deep under Callum Pritchard at Newcastle for a tough win. Congratulations to Transatlantic Thoroughbreds - it's excting when your horse as much will to win as you! 

Congratulations to members of our Ben Pauling Racing Club! Bank On Frank lived up to his name with a fabulous round of jumping at Southwell. A deserved win for both horse and owners! 

Personal Ambition likes to keep us all on our toes. The addition of blinkers set this son of Sandmason alight at Newbury and he careered home for a emphatic win under Ben Jones. Hopefully he now remembers how much he likes the winners enclosure!

De Kingpin defies top weight at Newbury to win well for the Troups under Ben Jones. 

Sound And Fury, (Tyson to his friends) lets his jumping do the talking for a great win at Carlisle under Ben Jones. Huge congratualtions to Foxtrot Racing and connections of this wonderful horse. A true stayer!

Ben Jones and The Jukebox Kid put in a textbook round of jumping, no mean feat at Ascot, to give owners their biggest win to date. What a thrill to celebrate a winner at Ascot. A hugely exciting Novice to continue with. Congratulations to The Sixsmiths Overlords, rider/groom Ryan and all connections. Enjoy your celebrations!

Valentines, a birthday and a win at Ascot! Saturday's don't come much more special! Congratualtions to Hine Law Racing on Mondoui'Boy's win. The first of a trio on the day for Ben Jones and Ben Pauling. 

Fiercely Proud and Kielan Woods have so far managed to deliver the Radfords a big win. This year they did so at Ascot & brought up a Valentine's Day treble to the yard. Congratulations to all connections, including Zach, Freddie's groom. A tough but deserved win!

Pic Roc was a fabulous watch at Sandown over the fences under Ben Jones. Congratulations to Mrs Emma Kendall, your boy really looks to be taking this all in his stride.

Congratulations to the many, many owners of The Hawkstonian who today recorded his first win! Given a lovely ride under Ben Jones the son of Jukebox Jury looked to really enjoy himself and even more so the pats in the winners enclosure afterwards!

Followcato & Kielan Woods win well at Hereford to complete the hat trick. Congratulations to all connections, an impressive feat in anyone's book.

Starmount and Ben Jones make light work of their Novice Hurdle to win well at Wetherby under a penalty. Congratulations to owners and connections. What a photo!

Basher Watts Racing are no longer Wondering when they'd celbrate their frist National hunt winner! Huge congratlations to Bash & all members of the ownership group for Wayne (Wondering Why). Given a great spin by Ben Jones, Wayne was cheered home at Lingfield by a mighty group of owners - giving rival to the Cheltenham Roar!!

An exciting win for The Jukebox Kid under Ben Jones at Ascot. A smart Novice Chaser really put his stamp on the infamous Ascot fences today and looks set to return to teh course net month for the Grade 2 Reynoldstown. Congratulations to all connections.

No Questions Asked played the long game at Windsor in the Grade 2 Lightning Novices' Chase. A three horse race, Ben Jones kept his cool and let No Questions Asked settle out the back before producing him for a skintillating finish. Huge congratulations to owners, Newtond LDP Ltd on your first Graded victory!

Huge congratulations to Tony and Alison of Hine Law Racing who celebrated their first win when Mondoui'Boy and Ben Jones ran clear at Ludlow! A huge moment for the husband and wife duo, and here's to many more successes!

Meetmebythesea and Ben Jones make the trip to Ayr worth it with a very cool, calm and collected win for JP McManus. Congratulations to all connections and groom Molly. 

Followcato is on a roll! Second win in a row over the bigger obstacales for Highclere & The Followers' Followcato. Ably ridden by Kielan Woods this duo looks to have alot of fun in store for connections!