Article by Liam Headd for the Racing Post

Ben Pauling holds Handstands in the highest regard after he produced a classy performance to land the Grade 2 DragonBet Towton Novices' Chase and continue the trainer’s stellar season with his novices.

Handstands recorded his fifth career win from seven starts, with last year's Gallagher Novices' Hurdle, won by Ballyburn at the Cheltenham Festival, and a chase debut at Wincanton when falling three out, his only defeats.

The nine-length victory confirmed the promise of the Tim Radford-owned six-year-old, who could return to the top level for next month’s Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown.

Pauling said: "I think that’ll work out to be a good performance and he’s a decent horse with a good future. The Scilly Isles was always the plan and Ben [Jones, jockey] said he was fresh as a daisy coming in, which is good. If he’s fit and well over the next few days, and if he’s in the same bit of form then 100 per cent he’ll go to Sandown. 

"That will, undoubtedly, have been a hard race and we’ve got to hope he bounces out of it because I wouldn’t want to run him under par."

Handstands was one of only two finishers in the six-runner contest as Range fell at the seventh, while Saint Davy took a heavy fall at the third last and hampered Hillcrest, who unseated Sam Twiston-Davies. Cherie D'Am, who quickly weakened under Harry Skelton, also came down at the same fence.

Handstands backed up his success over three miles in the Grade 2 Esher Novices' Chase, and Pauling added: “It was another step in the right direction. 

"It was a funny one because the ground looked very hard work. Although he won on proper wet ground at Huntingdon, I was a little nervous how he’d take it today. He jumped a little bit [like a] novice and bold, and hung in the air at a couple of fences because it was probably hard to get out of the ground. But ultimately he put the race bed with ease."

Handstands was cut to 20-1 (from 40s) with Betfair for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, but Pauling believes Aintree could be on the radar for his five-time winner.

He said: "He wasn’t himself when he turned up at Cheltenham last year and I don’t think it’s necessarily on his agenda this year. He’s more likely to go to Aintree, and that’s mainly the owners preference over mine. 

"It’s not that I don’t think he’s good enough. If we’re going to go to Sandown then he would have had a busy period up to Cheltenham and that bit of extra time before Aintree would see him to his best."

Vanderpoel quickly records a debut win over hurdles for new owner Lady Dulverton. A very exciting start for the Irish Pointing graduate with an impressive jumping display at Huntingdon under Ben Jones.

Article from The Racing Post, by James Stevens & Jonathan Harding

Ben Pauling insists the "deadly speed" of Diva Luna will ensure she is a major contender at the Cheltenham Festival, and vows there is more to come after her gutsy win in the 2m4½f maiden hurdle.


Paddy Power cut her to 14-1 (from 25) for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle in March after she made all to hold off Newton Tornado and register a first victory since her breathtaking performance in Aintree's mares' bumper in April.


Pauling, who believes Diva Luna is one of the best horses he trains, has the option of the Grade 2 Jane Seymour at Sandown on February 13 as her festival warm-up.


The trainer said: "That was better but nowhere near her best. I wanted to settle her in behind and take a lead but she's locked on to the first and that was that.


"I think she's going to be better over two miles, she's deadly with her speed. She'll end up getting three miles in time but at the moment she wants to get on with life, so we'll probably drop her back to two miles and go from there.


"It's just good to get her back in the winner's enclosure. She's very talented and I still think she's one of the best we've got. I need to see more than that to win a Mares' Novices' Hurdle but I think she'll find it."


Diva Luna's success completed a great festive period for the Gloucestershire stable, which celebrated a first Grade 1 winner in seven years when The Jukebox Man landed the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. The Brown Advisory-bound novice headlines Pauling's festival team.

Article from Limerick Live

Ben Pauling and Ben Jones’ superb festive period showed no signs of stopping with Henry’s Friend running out a decisive winner of the Coral Mandarin Handicap Chase at Newbury.


The trainer and jockey combination tasted Grade One glory with The Jukebox Man at Kempton on Boxing Day and look to have another smart operator on their hands as Henry’s Friend struck on Newbury’s Christmas card for the second year running.


Last seen finishing fifth here in the Coral Gold Cup, he was sent off at 7-2 and breezed into contention as the runners headed into the home straight for the final time.


The seven-year-old was soon putting pressure on long-time leader Brave Kingdom and once going past Paul Nicholls’ charge two out, he was simply kept up to his work to finish six-lengths clear of Harry Fry’s runner-up Hymac.


Pauling said: “It was a very good performance and I’m delighted to see it, as to be honest I thought we had a right chance in the Coral Gold Cup and he made a terrible mistake halfway down the back which put paid to his chances.


“This just shows we were right to believe he is well handicapped and a nice horse for the future, it’s a race that is a nice pot to win and I’m delighted for the troops who own him. It has put us in a great place going forward.


“I think the Ultima (at Cheltenham) is an obvious target to me. He has tactical speed and is able to hold a position very well and that is probably the right race to target. I imagine we will look after him between now and then.


“Depending on what mark he gets he could get a Grand National entry. If he has a mark that would see him get in, I think he is the right type. But whether it would be a year too early, I’m not too sure.”

Leader In The Park makes no mistakeBy Racing TV

Ben Jones judged the pace to perfection as he rode his rivals to sleep to win the Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase on Leader In The Park at Kempton Park.

Lightly raced over hurdles, he was having just his second outing over fences for Ben Pauling against some far more experienced rivals.

That lack of action did mean he was carrying bottom-weight and when Jones was gifted an easy lead, he was always going to be hard to peg back. His jumping meant he was always able to keep his rivals at arms length and despite getting in a bit tight to the last, the 5-1 chance still had a length and a quarter to spare over Asta La Pasta.

Pauling said: “He’s been so disappointing, but I think he just takes a lot of getting fit so you have allow him his first run at Cheltenham where he never jumped fluently. Today he jumped better and I think he is going to be better left-handed as he just went left at a few looking for room. He’s still learning, but that was a good start.

“He did it the hard way (from the front) because we wanted to do it that way. We were worried about the fact he wasn’t going to be as good in behind and I think at the moment he needs to be positive and allowed to dominate.

“His jumping was pretty good, there were three or four I would have liked him to have shortened more effectively, but he was brilliant when he was good. He just needs to learn when to shorten or let fly.”
​
On future plans, he added: “He will be too low in the handicap (for the novice handicap at Cheltenham) at the moment and would need to win a couple of more races yet. Winning this will do for now.”

– delight for Ben Pauling as Fiercely Proud downs Kabral Du Mathan in epic Ascot battle

Racing Post | Liam Headd

Ben Pauling praised the desire Fiercely Proud demonstrated when defeating Kabral Du Mathan to land a big prize following a thrilling conclusion to the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle. 

A photo-finish was required to split the pair after their enthralling battle to the line, but it was the mount of Kielan Woods who came out on top by a short-head margin.

It was a first victory in 12 months for the five-year-old, who recorded his biggest success to date when scooping a pot of more than £70,000 for connections.

Pauling said: "Horses like him, they’re good horses but they’re not superstars. To land a big handicap is not always that easy, so when you get one you’re thankful and you hope for the best for the rest of the season.


"He battled, but I think we just held on – you wouldn’t want to go much further. It’s a big feather in his cap and we’ll look at Newbury and the County Hurdle, but he might be better right-handed."


It has taken Fiercely Proud a bit of time to get going this season. He was withdrawn after unseating Callum Pritchard on the way to the start for his seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham in October before falling two out when in contention at this track last month.


He followed that with a sixth place in the Greatwood Hurdle, but this time he was good enough to reverse Cheltenham form with several runners. 


"We thought he was well handicapped at the beginning of the season, but we got it all wrong," Pauling said. "He got loose at Cheltenham and we rode him too handy here, but we had to drop him out in the Greatwood and he had so much to do in that race.


"We had to change tactics here and it worked. They went so hard but it’s good to see. Two-mile handicap hurdles should be fast run – it’s what we’re here for. This year they’ve been poor, they’ve been run at such a dawdle. This is what we need for these sorts of horses because he was able to settle off a good gallop. 
​

"I’m delighted for the owners and it’s nice for the horse to win a big one. It’s brilliant and just what we wanted."

No Questions Asked put in a decisive performance under Ben Jones to win stylishly at Hereford. 

Congratualtions to connections of this smart Novice Hurdler. 

Meetmebythesea likes Ludlow! The smart son of Watar put in a very smart performance under Callum Pritchard to beat the hot favourite in a well contested hurdle match. 

Congratulations to owner JP McManus & all connections of this wonderful horse. 

Just making it safely to the racecourse was a huge success for the connections of Legal Weapon. The four year gelding has had to undergo some specialised training from C and J Equine after displaying a rather large dislike for travelling. 

After a successful arrival at Warwick we were delighted to watch him show his professionalism and display his talent on the track to take the bumper win. Congratulations to all connections and long may this continue!

Sound And Fury in his usual no-nonsense manner put in a very tidy jumping display at Uttoxeter to take the win. His error-free round and consistent speed proved just the ticket under Kielan Woods for owners, Foxtrot Racing. 

Congratulations to connections!

Article from At The Races:

Sandown success comes hot on the heels of The Jukebox Man.

Handstands fully justified Ben Pauling’s faith in him when running out an impressive winner of the Betfair Esher Novices’ Chase at Sandown.

A Listed winner over hurdles last season, he was then asked a big question in March when pitched in against Ballyburn.

Pauling showed the regard in which he is held at home, though, when he ran Handstands in the Grade Two Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at Wincanton on his chasing debut.

The race was just developing when he came down at the third-last, but Pauling retained his belief and ran him in another Grade Two in what looked a much deeper contest.

Ben Jones soon found himself at the head of the back and jumping with aplomb, he never really looked in any danger.

On the run to the Pond Fence his four rivals ganged up and he looked a sitting duck, only for Handstands (5-2) to quicken impressively rounding the bend and he was soon three lengths clear.

Despite running over three miles for the first time since his pointing days, he saw the trip out powerfully to beat the running-on Resplendent Grey by three and a half lengths.

“He’s got natural speed, but we hoped he’d stay three miles as well,” said Pauling.

“He’d not made a mistake at home. He was an OK hurdler, not one you’d say would make an outright chaser but the second we schooled him over fences he was electric.

“At Wincanton they went so quick, they were being led a merry dance by Soul Icon and he was just out of his comfort zone. I didn’t think he was beaten when he fell, but it looked a tired fall. I’m delighted with him today.”

Pauling has another smart novice chaser on his hands in The Jukebox Man and will endeavour to keep them apart as long as possible.

He went on: “This lad looked like he stayed very well there, while The Jukebox Man looked like he had electric speed the other day so we might not need to go as far with him.

“We’re not Willie Mullins, they’re not going to run against each other in a hurry so there’ll be a bit of working out with each of them.

“We had some lovely novice hurdlers last year and it’s nice to see them go on as we need them to.

“Cheltenham is not the be-all and end-all for him (Handstands). For him to go he’d have to be the standout in everyone’s minds. We could possibly look somewhere else, but if he continues in nice form it’s a nice problem to have.
​
“We’ll see how he comes out of today and decide where to go next. I think we stay at around this sort of trip, although I don’t think he has to go over three miles – he still has enough speed for two and a half.”

Article from The Racing Post:

​Ben Pauling unleashed one of the stars in the novice chasing division when The Jukebox Man was successful at Newbury last week and he has another class act in this line-up. However, Handstands comes here with something to prove after falling on his chase debut at Wincanton.

Handstands looked every inch a chaser in the making when landing the Sidney Banks Novices' Hurdle at Huntingdon last season, but he beat only one home behind Ballyburn in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and looked in trouble when coming down last time.

That was in the Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices’ Chase and Pauling clearly hasn’t lost the faith because he pitches Handstands into the same class, rather than look for an easier option. But the five-year-old wasn’t fluent before his fall and didn’t look a natural like The Jukebox Man.

Paul Nicholls won this race last year with Stay Away Fay and saddles Welcom To Cartries, who is a half-brother to three chase winners and is evidently bred to be a natural over fences. He also has the stamina to be a successful staying chaser and three miles may be a minimum.

Welcom To Cartries returns from wind surgery and wears a first-time tongue-tie, so can be expected to leave last season’s hurdles form well behind. He needs to, though, having produced a no-show when well fancied for a staying novice handicap hurdle at Ayr on his latest start in April.

Lucinda Russell's Giovinco finished second to Stay Away Fay last year and she runs Cadell at a track where she has a 17 per cent strike-rate. Cadell won over fences at Wetherby last time and may improve more than the other chase winners, Resplendent Grey and Riskintheground.

Analysis by Graeme Rodway

Going details:
It is soft on the hurdles course and good to soft, soft in places on the chase course, with good in places on the back straight. Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said on Thursday: “We’re expecting 5mm-plus this evening but nothing of concerning volumes.”

What they say
Lucinda Russell, trainer of Cadell
He was really impressive at Wetherby and jumped very well for a novice. He wouldn’t want the ground to get too soft but he’s a nice horse and a long-distance staying type.

Ben Pauling, trainer of Handstands
He should have a great chance. He has schooled well since his fall at Wincanton, which doesn’t appear to have left its mark. He should see out three miles and is very much up to this level. He’s very talented.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Resplendent Grey
It turned into a bit of a sprint at Cheltenham last time and it didn’t play to his strengths. Sandown should suit him and on ratings it looks like he should go very well.

AJ O'Neill, joint-trainer of Saint Davy
He's got the size and should jump a fence nicely. He won at the track last season and shouldn't mind the easy ground. We'll see if he's good enough as it's a competitive race.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Welcom To Cartries
He lost his way a little in the spring but ran a couple of good races at Ascot earlier last season. He won a point-to-point and jumps very nicely. I’d have liked to have run him beforehand but there hasn't been the right race and there aren’t many options for novice chasers. This is a good place for him to start.

Reporting by Jack Haynes

It's Hard To Know made his win at Market Rasen look quite certain! A tidy round of jumping (and a long one at the last!) under Ben Jones for the son of Malinas saw the talented gelding maintain his perfect record. 

Congratulations to the Owners Group and thank you to Steven Cargill for capturing this wonderful shot!

Article from Sporting Life
By Ashley Iveson

Ben Pauling is considering options at Ascot and Kempton over the Christmas period for The Jukebox Man following his impressive chasing debut at Newbury last week.


Placed three times at Grade One level over hurdles, including a head defeat to Stellar Story in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, the Harry Redknapp-owned six-year-old was thrown in at the deep end on his fencing bow for what looked a strong renewal of the Grade Two John Francome Novices’ Chase.


The Jukebox Man proved more than up to the task, however, jumping boldly on the front end under Ben Jones on his way to a clear-cut success.


Pauling said: “He came out of it really well, there’s not a mark on him, and I was just delighted with his performance. I was certain he would need the run, yes we’d been away and done bits and bobs, but we hadn’t gone too hard on him – we never do.


“I thought it was a good field and I thought to win that first time out would be very pleasing, and of course he went and did it nicely. It was a delight to watch and we were thrilled really.”


While The Jukebox Man’s best efforts over hurdles came over three miles, Friday’s performance proved he can be effective over two and a half, leaving Pauling to ponder his next move.


“I’ve obviously given it some thought, there’s not an awful lot (of options),” the trainer added.


“He has this quirk where he can lug left at times, but when you straighten him up, he’s gun barrel straight and he jumps straight, so he’s not a horse who I think has to go left-handed and there’s not much for him left now for a little while.


“The Kauto Star over three miles at Kempton on Boxing Day is very much an option, or he could go for the Noel at Ascot (December 20) over two-mile-two. He shows speed on the track that he doesn’t at home, so I’m trying not to get myself too blinkered on the fact that he’s an out-and-out three-miler.
​

“I dropped him back in trip the other day to see where we were, on ground that was probably as quick as he’s ever run and he looked better than ever, so we might keep our options open of staying down in trip and go from there.”

SkySports:
The Jukebox Man marks debut over fences with victory in the Grade 2 John Francome Novices' Chase at Newbury for owner Harry Redknapp; "He's the best horse I've ever sat on, without a shadow of a doubt," says jockey Ben Jones after success on joint-favourite.

Cheltenham Festival runner-up The Jukebox Man made a successful start to his career over fences for owner Harry Redknapp in the Coral John Francome Novices' Chase at Newbury.


Having seen Redknapp's colours carried to a first victory at the showpiece meeting by Shakem Up'arry the previous afternoon, the popular former football manager looked set to complete a famous Festival double in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle on Gold Cup day in March, only for The Jukebox Man to be caught in the shadow of the post by Stellar Story.


The six-year-old was thrown straight into Grade Two company on his chasing debut by trainer Ben Pauling and went off the 9-4 joint-favourite alongside Captain Teague, who was bidding to complete a treble on the card for Paul Nicholls.


The two market leaders were the front two in the race for much of the two-and-a-half-mile contest, with The Jukebox Man holding sway and jumping accurately under Ben Jones.


While Captain Teague faltered in the home straight, The Jukebox Man certainly did not, galloping on strongly - albeit lugging to his left - from the final fence to repel the late thrust of Masaccio by two lengths.


Johnnywho finished third, with Captain Teague ultimately a little disappointing in fourth.


Pauling said: "Barters Hill was an exceptional talent and I think he might be the same.

"There's loads to work on, he was a bit close to the first few and was almost in hurdling mode. Ben then did well to rein him in and just pop him down the back.


"He's a big horse, that's his run of the season and he's going to improve a ton. All mine do, so it could be quite exciting, hopefully.


"I had in my head he wasn't just a dour stayer, he's slow at home but on the track he finds another gear and I thought he had a touch of class, so dropping him back to two and a half was always my plan.


"I was unsure on this ground we'd have the gears, but we did and it opens up a lot of options. We'll see what we do between now and March."


A jubilant Jones told ITV Racing: "That was unbelievable, to land a Grade Two like that for Ben who has obviously given me the job (as stable jockey) this year - it means a lot to me.


"He's been so good (schooling) at home, a little bit too brave, but he took a chance at the water jump and one down the back and I'd say that's done him the world of good because he measured his fences really well after that.


"He's the best horse I've ever sat on, without a shadow of a doubt. I felt like I cantered round and just quickened up the home straight."

Where there's a will, there's a way. King of the Road (Shirocco) showed just how deep he was willing to dig for connections at Taunton on Thursday. Two times a winner already, this genuine horse proved to be all heart with a tough performance under a determined Kielan Woods to clench that third win!

A very tidy round of jumping from Meetmebythesea (Sea The Stars) saw this exciting prospect make the perfect start to his career under rules. Ably piloted by Kielan Woods, we look forward to next targets. 

Congratualtions to owner Mr JP McManus and all connections.

Jig's Forge put in a very smart performance at Ffos Las to win under Ben Jones on rules debut. The win was even more special with the American continguent of the syndicate also in attendance!

Good boy Jig!
​Congratulations to all connections.

A brilliant round by Densworth under our new Conditional Callum Pritchard gives the OAPs something to cheer about! A first win over fences for this smart Novice Chaser and a first win for the BPR team for Callum - happy days!

Golden Ambition rewards the very patient Shamrock and Rose syndicate by going back-to-back over hurdles under Kielan Woods. 

His win at Lingfield gives the BPR team a course double on the day following on from It's Hard To Know's win earlier on the card.

Congratulations to the Owners Group on a very smart winning debut from It's Hard To Know at Lingfield over hurdles. None more so delighted that his rider / groom Zach who has chewed the ear off anyone that is too slow to walk away about this horse!

Bowtogreatness does what he does best and put in a brillant jumping display at Newbury to win well under Ben Jones. An uncharacteristic error at Cheltenham last start looks a distant memory with Bow back on stride.

​Congratulations to owners Mr Harry Redknapp and Mrs Sophie Pauling on a well awaited win!

She may have just completed the hat-trick but Harrys Hope is nothing but a treat this Halloween! 

What a way to kick off her chasing career. Congratulations to The JP Girls, Geri, Gill, Juliet and Paula!