Woods enjoyed a winning return to action at Wetherby on the Megsons' Wreckless Eric. 

The smart juvenile breaks his maiden on just his second start and looks set for an exciting future. 

Congratulations to all connections.

Ben Pauling talks to Racing Post's Lambourn correspondent as he puts together his strongest Cheltenham squad.
By James Burn


You couldn't say Ben Pauling is hard to pin down, but he is certainly in demand. By the time he sits down for a chat with the Racing Post, his morning has already involved Nick Luck's podcast and an interview with Sky Sports Racing.
Anyone who has dealt with Pauling since he started training in 2013 will recognise a willing and engaging subject, so it's no surprise he is a go-to trainer for the media – especially as he had hogged headlines the previous weekend with a treble at Ascot.


"It's different from how it was, but I'm getting older," he replies when asked what celebrations were like. "I took the staff down the pub for a few drinks, but we're much busier now, so writing ourselves off for three days isn't great."
It is even less so when you're on the verge of the most important week in the calendar and have your strongest Cheltenham Festival team, which has live Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle hope Tellherthename at its heart. 


"We'll run between eight and ten," says the 40-year-old trainer. "We ran a similar number one year and I convinced myself they had chances, but I'm not sure they did and we turned right where the beaten horses go more than we went straight on to the winner's spot."


Pauling does know his way to that hallowed enclosure fairly well, however. He was involved with plenty of festival winners during his time working for Nicky Henderson, while Willoughby Court, Le Breuil and Global Citizen have put his own name in lights at the meeting.

Tellherthename: gelding is highly regarded

Pauling sees a kindred spirit in counterpart Dan Skelton, another trainer often on the front foot when it comes to defending British jumping and its values.


"We're the same age, we started at the same time and we get on brilliantly," he says. "I hope in X amount of years we can be serving it up properly because you have periods of domination – there was Martin Pipe and the year before I left Nicky we had seven winners at Cheltenham and he was champion trainer. Willie has taken it to another level, but I don't think that domination will last forever.


"I'll be honest, though, I'm happy I'm training in Britain, not Ireland. There, you've got Willie, Gordon [Elliott] and probably Henry [de Bromhead], but then brilliant trainers beneath who are struggling to get on to that ladder, while we've just managed to have a fabulous Saturday with three winners, nearly four, at Ascot. That just wouldn't happen in Ireland."


Based just 13 miles from Cheltenham in Gloucestershire's jumping stronghold, Pauling is well aware of the lure of the festival and the grip it has on the sport, but rejects claims it plays too overarching a role.
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"Whether you like it or not, Cheltenham is the pinnacle of jump racing and if you gave most owners a choice, bar maybe the late Trevor Hemmings, who loved the National, the majority would want to run at Cheltenham," he says.
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"Everyone wants to be there. We're a stone's throw away and a lot of my owners would love our location because of its proximity to Cheltenham. Festival week for us is not just the racing, we're flat out from the Sunday night before to the Friday night. It's busy morning, noon and night, but there's a great buzz and the staff can get there for an afternoon, which is a big thing."


Pauling is talking from a smart lounge at the stunning state-of-the-art Naunton training complex he has called home for nearly two years.


Its art deco wallpaper is not a subject on which he is an expert – "my wife Sophie is responsible" – but he is more familiar with saddling winners and by far his best campaign was recorded during his first season at the new yard last term, with 80 winners. Another 57 have followed this season.


Assistant Tom David, Head Person Gill Tate and Secretary Hannah Vowles are trusted employees who take pressure off Pauling, who had said before the move that building his new base was like creating a monster.


"I slightly regret that statement," he reflects. "What I was trying to get across was we've created a big operation and you can't get away from the fact we heavily invested in it, so it needed to work, but it has, and it's gone from being a monster to being really smooth.


"Everything's coming together nicely at the moment, and with the owners, staff and horses we've got, we're in a great place – we've never been in a better one. 


"You're always looking for the next horse or to meet the next owner, but a friend told me people spend too much time living for tomorrow. You've got to be ambitious, but don't rush what's happening today."

In terms of the here and now, and the next few weeks, Pauling has plenty to savour.


More than just Tellherthename ... here are the rest of Pauling's pearls

Owned by The Megsons, Monty Bodkin was all heart as he dug deep to keep his lead on soft holding ground at Doncaster. The win marked a double on the day for the team with Leader In The Park winning the first also under Ben Jones. 

Congratulations to all connections of these two lovely horses. 

Leader In The Park maintains his lead throughout to win well at Doncaster for owner Lady Dulverton. The son of Walk In The Park grew in confidence as the race progressed, flying the last under a lovely ride from Ben Jones.

Looking forward to the future with this smart prospect. 

No Questions Asked puts in a stylish performance to win well on debut under a great ride from Ben Jones. 

The win pays reward to some very patient owners and we are delighted he has been worth the wait! Congratulations to all connections. 

In-form trainer and jockey Ben Jones star in Ascot treble. 

AT THE RACES article.

Henry’s Friend held off the late lunge of Kilbeg King to successfully move up in class and win the Sodexo Live! Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot, on a tremendous afternoon for trainer Ben Pauling and jockey Ben Jones.

Pauling fitted Henry’s Friend with cheekpieces for the first time, despite him winning his last two outings.

And it certainly had the desired effect, as he showed real determination in the closing stages to win the Grade Two in the hands of Ben Jones.

Brave Kingdom attempted to make all, but he was beaten a long way from home which left 13-8 favourite Apple Away in front.

She could never quite break away, however, as Henry’s Friend, Kilbeg King and outsider The King Of Ryhope all had a chance jumping two out.

It was Henry’s Friend (13-2) who toughed it out best, winning by a head and earning a quote of 10-1 for the National Hunt Chase with Paddy Power, although Cheltenham is unlikely to be on the winner’s radar, as Pauling explained.

“He didn’t jump well enough early doors and it was fortunate for him they didn’t go much of a gallop,” he said.

“I thought they would go a right gallop and if they had done he wouldn’t have been in it. But he was brave from the back of the last and his jumping got better and he keeps improving.

“I thought he was well handicapped, but I just thought he would be better off in a smaller field. I’m thrilled because he had to improve and he has.

“He wants every yard (of three miles) and he will be a lovely staying chaser in time. Stamina would never be a worry for me with this lad.

“He’s got an entry at Cheltenham in the amateur chase, but I doubt he wants to go there after that – that looked a bit of a ding-dong and to go there so quickly might be stupid.

“We might look at Aintree for him or something like that, but I think that will do for now.”

Handstands (Getaway) remains unbeaten by beating a strong and select field in the £30,000 highlight at Huntingdon, the Listed Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle.

The five year old settled into to a lovely rhythm under Harry Cobden early in the race, jumping tidily throughout before moving strongly round the hometurn to take the lead over the final two hurdles. Handstands has made a brilliant start to his career and we look forward to watching him progress as he gains in experience. 

Congratulations to his owner Mr T P Radford. 

Dunskay (Night Wish) is back to debut form to boast a smart three length win in the Huntingdon finale to make it a card double for the team and Harry Cobden. 

Congratulations to owners, the OAPs. 

Diva Luna kept Ben Pauling on a roll with his bumper horses when she made a successful start under rules in the Listed feature, named in honour of Alan Swinbank, at the Lincolnshire track.

Winning rider Brian Hughes rode many winners for the former North Yorkshire-based Swinbank and was not for stopping in the straight on the well-backed 4-1 chance to hold off Listentoyourheart by three-quarters of a length.

The winner had been placed on her only previous start in an Irish point-to-point after which the owners switched her to Pauling's Cheltenham base, and it is already paying dividends.

The 2m½f contest was won by subsequent Grade 2 Aintree bumper winner Dysart Enos 12 months ago, and the daughter of Diamond Boy is to follow the same path according to Pauling. 

The Gloucestershire trainer, who introduced another nice bumper prospect in the shape of Sixmilebridge at Sandown last Saturday, said: "This mare has done most of her work with Sixmilebridge, but he would have more toe than her. 

"She's always been a lovely prospect after she came off the box and has always been very professional. We got that in spades today and we'll have a look at the mares' bumper at Aintree after that."

Sixmilebridge could be added to trainer Ben Pauling’s small but select team for next month’s Cheltenham Festival following an impressive debut at Sandown last weekend.


The Naunton Downs handler is fast approaching the 50-winner mark for the current campaign and has unearthed several exciting prospects who are under consideration for the showpiece meeting in the Cotswolds in five weeks’ time.


Pauling is particularly strong in the novice hurdle division, with Fiercely Proud and The Jukebox Man both placed in graded company and the unbeaten Handstands and dual winner Tellherthename both facing crucial tests this week in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon and Betfair Hurdle at Newbury respectively.


Point-to-point recruit Sixmilebridge was unraced under rules prior to running in Sandown’s bumper finale on Saturday, but was backed as if plenty was expected and duly justified favouritism with an impressive victory, teeing himself up for a potential tilt at the Champion Bumper.


“In everything he’s done at home he’s been impressive,” said Pauling.


“He’s not a keen horse, he’s just a good work horse, and we’ve struggled with him throughout the whole season in getting his lung health spot-on.


“He still wasn’t spot-on on Saturday, but it had got to the point in the season where we either rolled the dice to see how we got on or we shut up shop for the season. We decided to roll the dice and we were delighted to see what we got because there’s probably a fair bit of improvement to come when he’s 100 per cent healthy.


“If I can get his trach wash clean, he would be the sort that I would roll at the Cheltenham bumper because he seems to have that mental attitude you need and travels well without being too keen – he looks like he knows his job.
“We might let him roll in the Cheltenham bumper, which would be unusual for me, but I do think he’s potentially a bit special.”


Sixmilebridge’s victory was the second leg of a Sandown double for Pauling and his owners the Megson family, with the tricky but talented Harper’s Brook striking gold in a valuable handicap chase.


The eight-year-old had thrown away victory on his previous outing at Ascot when pulling himself up on the run-in, but having got the job done on Saturday, he too is Festival-bound.


Pauling added: “He is a horse with enormous ability, an unbelievable stride and the scope he has is just mad, but he is a bit of a character to say the least, so any day you get his head in front is a good day.


“I was thrilled with the way he travelled through the race off a strong pace. He was nearly taken out at the third-last by the loose horse and it was unfortunate at the last for the other horse to fall, but we can now look forward to going to Cheltenham with an exciting horse for the Grand Annual.


“He’s been given a mark of 140 which is spot-on as it’ll get you in, but you’ll be near the bottom of the weights. I couldn’t be happier with him.”


Harry Redknapp-owned The Jukebox Man has not been seen in competitive action since finishing third in the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury in late December, but he is also on Pauling’s Prestbury Park teamsheet.
“Jukebox will go straight to Cheltenham and I’d say he’s more of an Albert Bartlett horse than a Baring Bingham horse,” the trainer said.


“If the Baring Bingham came up on proper heavy ground then I’d probably stick at two-and-a-half, but I think he’s probably more of a three-miler.


“He ran a blinder in the Challow. It was pretty tough going that day and they went a proper, honest gallop considering the conditions.
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“I just thought that even though that he seems great at home, he could do with a proper opportunity to freshen up. He’s in really good form and I think he’s only going to improve.”

Harper's Brook survived a few scares in a dramatic running of the 1m7½f handicap chase to kickstart a double for Ben Pauling and Ben Jones.


In an eventful finish, the eight-year-old was hampered at the third-last by loose horse Saint Segal before pecking on landing at the penultimate fence. He soon recovered and was in contention alongside In Excelsis Deo before being left to canter home after his chief rival unseated his rider at the last. 


"He's got his head in front, which is great because he's got a lot of ability," said Pauling. "We all love him to pieces because he's a bit of a rogue. 


"He almost got taken out completely and then almost fell at the second-last before somehow coming back on the bridle again before the last."
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Pauling and Jones doubled up when Sixmilebridge, carrying the same colours, won the bumper by two and three-quarter lengths from Juby Ball.