YOUR DARLING TEES UP POSSIBLE PUNCHESTOWN TRIP AFTER SEALING DOUBLE FOR BEN PAULING

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."