2023/24 was a memorable year for Naunton handler Ben Pauling. 76 winners may have been four down on the previous season, but an impressive £1,118,493 in prize money represented a career-best and propelled Pauling into the top 10 British-based trainers.
Henry’s Friend, Personal Ambition, and Diva Luna were the graded stars of 2024, but Pauling proved equally adept at plundering valuable handicap pots. Following such a successful campaign, it no doubt came as a surprise and a shock when key owners, The Megson Family, removed 20 runners from the yard.
That loss is undoubtedly a blow, but with 21 winners and over £200,000 prize money already on the board for 2024/25, the early signs suggest Pauling is well positioned to continue his upward trajectory.
Here, we pick out the leading lights at Naunton Downs Estate and provide a snapshot of the Pauling-trained runners in our horse tracker.
Stable Stars
Diva Luna
With only two Bumper wins to her name, it may seem a little early to place Diva Luna in the stable star category. However, this daughter of Diamond Boy looked like a potential top-notcher when cantering all over her rivals in the big Grade 2 Bumper at the Aintree Grand National meeting. She sets out over hurdles this term, and we like her chances of flying high.
The Jukebox Man
This six-year-old was unfortunate not to land a Grade 1 hurdle last season, having finished third at Newbury and second at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals. Nevertheless, those efforts were hugely encouraging for a horse that looks like a chaser through and through. The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase is a realistic target this season, and it would be no surprise to see him go one better than in 2024.
Six For The Horse Tracker
Excitingly for the Pauling yard, the two standout performers still have their best years ahead of them. With a plethora of talent in the novice ranks this term, it would be no surprise to see new stars emerge – hopefully from among our six tracked runners.
- Champagne Twist – Point-to-Point winner who picked up two wins in his debut season over hurdles, including a Grade 3 Handicap at Sandown. He travelled well on his return at Cheltenham before failing to take off at the third last. Looking like the sort to enjoy a step up to 3m, he can progress beyond a mark of 131.
- Groovy Blue – This Blue Bresil gelding showed little on his sole outing for Emma Lavelle last season but appears to have strengthened up significantly over the summer. Returning with a tenacious Bumper success at Fontwell, he is one of the more exciting Novice Hurdlers in the yard.
- Handstands – One of the standout members of an impressive novice chase team. Winning his first three outings over hurdles in his debut campaign, he found the Grade 1 Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle a step too far on his final outing, but shouldn’t be written off on the back of that. Returning in the Grade 2 Rising Star Novices’ Chase at Wincanton, he was only beginning to launch his challenge when coming down at the third last. That effort suggests that he needs to add a little polish to his fencing, but that will come with experience, and it would be no surprise to see him lining up in the top-tier novice chases.
- Henry’s Friend – This novice hurdle winner exploded into life over fences last season, winning three of five starts to climb to a mark of 142 over fences. He’s been dropped 3lb for a pulled-up effort in the National Hunt Chase, but that came over a trip too far on ground softer than ideal. Blowing away the cobwebs with a spin over hurdles at Newbury, he looks like a live contender for the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.
- Roysse – This impressive bumper winner made his seasonal return in a Class 3 Novice hurdle at Newbury in November. He looked the winner two from home that day, only to tire in the closing stages. If – like many of his stablemates – he improves for that first outing, he may take some stopping in early season Maiden and Novice events.
- The Jukebox Kid – Despite the name, this five-year-old is no relation to stable star The Jukebox Man. However, like his stablemate, he joined the Pauling yard following an impressive Point-to-point win – coming home 16l clear of the rest in his case. Set to be sent straight over hurdles, we expect to see him in the Winner's Enclosure sooner rather than later.
Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
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