Ben Pauling Stable Tour

Form profile

122 rated chaser. Found his winning form this spring and added to his score with victories in a handicap chase at Stratford (2m 6 1/2f) in March when beating Realta Liath 17 lengths off a mark of 115 and followed up with a two and three quarter length win from Daytime Dreaming in a novices’ handicap chase at Uttoxeter (2m 4f) later that month off a mark of 118.

Trainer says

He found his way in the end, and it was just a little bit of a matter of getting his confidence back. Hopefully, he is now a horse that could actually progress nicely. He’s on a working mark and he is still a novice until November 30 so I think we will start him off in a novice handicap chase at Cheltenham and go from there.

Form profile

142 rated chaser. Made a winning reappearance in a handicap chase at Kempton (2m 2f) last October when beating Gabriel’s Getaway three and a half lengths off a mark of 138 and ran well when placed in decent company after.

Trainer says

We’ve just given his wind a little tighten and he’s ready to rock and roll again. He’ll probably go and win one decent one, and then when he ends up on the wrong side of the handicapper and the blinkers have had their effect it’s not so easy to win with him. He had a good time last season, and we’ll look to do much more of the same this time.

Form profile

Finished runner-up, beaten half a length, to Moore Brion in a bumper at Uttoxeter (2m) in March.

Trainer says

He is a lovely novice prospect. He won an English point-to-point and ran very well in a bumper.The form of that race has worked out well and he could be a smart novice over two and a half miles.

Form profile

122 rated hurdler. Off the mark over hurdles when beating Diamonds Galore in a mares’ novice at Ludlow (2m 5f) in December and ran well next time in a similar event at Warwick (2m 3f) in January when runner-up, beaten a length, to Jackie Hobbs.

Trainer says

She won her bumper well and won a mares’ novice nicely. She will be aimed at some of those mares’ handicap hurdles, and I don’t quite know if she graded class. I think she’s probably got the ability to improve again.

Form profile

Winner of his only point-to-point in Ireland in February.

Trainer says

He’s a lovely winning Irish point-to-pointer and shows plenty of speed and goes well. He will go straight novice hurdling and we will start him over two miles and go from there.

Form profile

Runner-up in his point-to-point in Ireland in December.

Trainer says

He should make a very nice novice hurdler. He goes well and he should make a two to two and a half mile hurdler. We like him a lot.

Form profile

117 rated hurdler and 112 rated chaser. Added to his score when beating One Eye On Vegas seven and a half lengths in a handicap hurdle at Newbury (2m 4 1/2f) in February off a mark of 110.

Trainer says

He is a great big chasing type, but chasing didn’t work out for him last season. We will revisit that and, hopefully, he’ll have a little more luck. He showed some nice form in handicap hurdle form at Newbury towards the end of the season.

Form profile

121 rated hurdler. Off the mark with a six-length victory from Seaniecon in a novice hurdle at Uttoxeter (2m 4f) in March

Trainer says

I always really liked him as a novice, but things didn’t work out as I expected but he still managed to win at the end of the season. He would be one of my dark horses for the season, and I think he’s going to make a lovely novice handicap chaser.

Form profile

143 rated chaser. Impressive winner of her two mares’ novices’ chases last season. Scored by 19 lengths from Joyeuse in a listed event at Bangor-On-Dee (2m 1 1/2f) in November and by three and a half lengths from Blue Las in another listed event at Warwick (2m 4f) in December.

Trainer says

She is in fab form, and she had a frustrating end of the season with little niggles. She’ll start off in the Graduation Chase at Haydock that we won with The Jukebox Man and then we will plan a route from there. I suppose the end of season target will be the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham if she is showing that level of form but she’s a very talented mare that we obviously like a lot.

Form profile

119 rated hurdler. Scored impressively by seven and a half lengths from Linalene in maiden hurdle (2m) at the Scottish Grand National meeting at Ayr in April.

Trainer says

I trained this horse pretty averagely last season, and he should have won earlier than he did win. I was pleased to see him get off the mark at Ayr over two miles, with a bit of soft ground and a fence I think he’ll be a nice horse.

Form profile

136 rated hurdler. Added to his score when beating John Barbour a neck in a handicap hurdle at Ascot (2m 3 1/2f) in February off a mark of 133.

Trainer says

He’s been a very proactive and productive hurdler, and he normally wins a big one every year. He did it again last year at Ascot and looking forward to seeing him go over a fence. He used to jumped pretty averagely but he now seems much better over an obstacle. We’ve scored with him over fences already, and he’ll start off at Ascot at the end of October in the novices’ handicap chase.

Form profile

132 rated chaser. Completed a four-timer over fences when beating Major Fortune four and a quarter lengths in a novices’ handicap chase at Leicester (2m 6 1/2f) in March off a mark of 127.

Trainer says

He obviously had a great season last year and we are looking forward to getting him going again. He’ll have to step up in class and should run in some decent handicaps around Christmas time.

Form profile

153 rated chaser. Ran well in three of his four starts last season finishing runner-up, beaten three quarters of a length, to Resplendent Grey in the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Chase at Carlisle (2m 4f) in November. Fourth, beaten 14 ½ lengths, to Grey Dawning in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock (3m 1 1/2f) in November and third, beaten six and a half lengths, to Protektorat in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Windsor (2m 6f) in January.

Trainer says

He’s a horse that I’ve always adored but didn’t quite find his verve last year even though he ran well in defeat a couple of times. I’m looking forward to seeing him come back to his best and, hopefully, we’ll probably start off in the Charlie Hall or the Old Roan. It would then be taking a view as to whether we went back to a Betfair Chase or went to a Peterborough Chase. I’m not sure yet and he could also go back the Fleur De Lys Chase. He’s in very good form with himself this season and I think we’ve got him back where we want him.

Form profile

142 rated chaser. Best effort last season when beating The Changing Man a length and three quarters in the Grade 3 Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase on his reappearance at Ascot in November off a mark of 143.

Trainer says

He’s been a bit of a hero through his career, and we tightened up his wind recently. He will be aimed at those sort of staying handicap chase and that will probably bring in the Cross-Country race at Cheltenham and then maybe Veterans’ races after the New Year.

Form profile

Winner of his second point-to-point in Ireland in May.

Trainer says

He’s another nice Irish point-to-point recruit and I think he’s going to need a little bit of soft ground.

Form profile

121 rated chaser. Finished promising fourth, beaten 14 lengths, to Guard The Moon in a novices’ handicap chase at Aintree (2m 4f) in December off a mark of 123. Was three lengths back in third when falling at the last in a similar event at Perth (2m 4f) in April off a mark of 122.

Trainer says

He was a good novice hurdler and came back late last year and didn’t enjoy the rub of the green. He took a nasty fall at Perth but he’s ok now and, hopefully, we will revisit novice handicap chasing and get going again.

Form profile

136 rated chaser. Added to his score when beating Lucky Place a length and a half in a Beginners’ Chase at Newbury (2m 6 1/2f) in December.

Trainer says

He’s a nice horse, was a good hurdler and obviously won over fences at Newbury last year. He picked up an injury in his following race and I’m looking forward to seeing him back over fences this season

Form profile

120 rated hurdler. Off the mark in a maiden hurdle at Newcastle (2m 1f) in February when beating Like Minded six lengths and followed up with a nose defeat of Current Edition in a novice event at Ludlow (2m) in March.

Trainer says

He is a very likeable individual and he appreciates a bit of better ground. He should be very capable of running in some nice handicap hurdles.

Form profile

134 rated hurdler. Made a winning debut over hurdles in a maiden event at Ffos Las (2n 4f) in October when beating The Price Of Peace a length and three quarters and failed by only a head behind Klimt Madrik in a novice at Newbury (2m 4 1/2f) in November. Last of six, beaten 28 lengths, to No Drama This End in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury (2m 4 1/2f) in December.

Trainer says

He was one of my standout novice hurdlers last year and didn’t quite have his own way. He pulled some muscles in the Challow, and I think he will make a fabulous novice chaser going forward. He will probably start in a regulation novice handicap chase and then we will build from there. He would be a good enough for a Graded Novice in the fairly near future.

Form profile

Close third in his only point-to-point in Ireland in February.

Trainer says

He is a lovely new horse of JP’s, and I couldn’t be happier with him. I haven’t done a lot with him, but he is a very likeable type and a novice hurdler.

Form profile

128 rated hurdler. Winner of his first two races over hurdles at Leicester (2m 4 1/2f) last season - scoring by five lengths from Island Bridge in a maiden in November and following up with a 13-length success from Arcadian Star in a novice in December.

Trainer says

He made a very positive start to his season but had a wind issue that bothered him after that. We fixed his wind and he will start off at either Carlisle or Newbury in early November, with a view to running in the John Francome if he is good enough.

Form profile

128 rated hurdler. At his best on his reappearance in a handicap hurdle at Doncaster (2m 1/2f) in December when beating Williethebuilder eight and a half lengths off a mark of 116.

Trainer says

He is a nice individual who goes well and always turns up in one decent handicap hurdle per season. He should once again do the same.

Form profile

129 rated chaser. Runner-up in his first two starts last season including when beaten four and a half lengths, to Booster Bob on his reappearance in a handicap chase at Newbury (2m 6 1/2f) in November off a mark of 128.

Trainer says

He had an almost season last season and kept hitting the bar a few too many times. We will probably go back for the Sir Peter O’Sullevan and hope we can go one better.

Form profile

Runner-up in her point-to-point in Ireland in March.

Trainer says

She is a very nice point-to-point mare who finished second in her only start. She goes very well and I think she will be a very smart mares’ novice hurdler this season.

Form profile

146 rated chaser. Completed a hat-trick over fences with a seven-length victory from Hansard in the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton (2m) over Christmas. Ended his season with a third placing, beaten 10 ½ lengths, to Koktail Divin in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree (2m 4f) in April.

Trainer says

Mambo is obviously a very decent animal and did very well last season. He was third in the Manifesto and won the Wayward Lad. We were a little concerned that he was a little bit weak in the finish of the Manifesto, but it transpired that he had a fracture in his hock. We fixed that and I imagine he will be back halfway through November, and he should have some lovely targets over two/two and a half. He is still handicapped I believe but he will probably end up in graded company.

Form profile

Scored by a length and quarter from Cape Warrior in a bumper at Wetherby in March.

Trainer says

He won his only bumper last year very impressively and should be a very smart two-mile novice hurdler.”

Form profile

151 rated chaser. Winner of three of his four races over fences last season and landed his most prestigious success in the Grade 2 Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f) in March when scoring by four and three quarter lengths from Gold Dancer off a mark of 139.

Trainer says

He is a lovely individual who couldn’t have done any more last season and won the Jack Richards at Cheltenham well. He will start off in the Paddy Power and will make our plan from there. If he was to go well in the Paddy Power, he would probably be out of handicaps for the time being. I think he is a horse who can hold his own in graded company and I am really looking forward to seeing how he gets on

Form profile

Made a winning debut for the stable when scoring by a length and a quarter from Presley in a bumper at Warwick in March. Subsequently fourth, beaten five and a half lengths, to Forthfactor in a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree in April.

Trainer says

He won very well at Warwick, and it couldn’t have gone much better in the Aintree bumper, but he just couldn’t handle the ground. It was a bit too quick for him so when he came off the bridle up the straight he just slightly hung in behind. He is a very nice horse with a bright future and should make a very good hurdler.

Form profile

128 rated hurdler. Finished third, beaten five and three quarter lengths, to Kailix Delabarriere in a Listed handicap hurdle at Punchestown (2m 1/2f) in April off a mark of 126 when trained by Noel Meade.

Trainer says

He was bought at Doncaster off Noel Meade. He was fourth in the Imperial Cup at Sandown and finished third in a listed race at the Punchestown Festival. He is a proper handicap hurdler, and he will probably go novice chasing as well. He is a lovely horse to look forward to.

Form profile

142 rated hurdler. Made a winning debut for the stable when beating Island Bridge four and a half lengths in a maiden hurdle at Ludlow (2m 5f) in January and followed up with a seven-length success from Kildinan Prince in a novice event at Ascot (2m 3 1/2f) in February. Finished creditable fourth, beaten five and three quarter lengths, to Johnny’s Jury in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (3m) in March.

Trainer says

He obviously had a very good season last year and he is a lovely individual who goes very well indeed. We drew a line through Aintree he was just over the top and he will start off in the John Francome at Newbury for his first run over fences. I think he can figure highly, certainly amongst the British but possibly also between all novice chase contenders on both sides of the Irish Sea this year.

Form profile

Winner of his point-to-point in Ireland in March.

Trainer says

He comes over with a big reputation, and we like him a lot. He is not the biggest, but he has plenty of speed. We will start over two, and we think he could be, potentially, smart.

Form profile

Winner of his AQPS bumper in France

Trainer says

He is a new one of JP McManus’s who won an AQPS bumper in France. He is a nice individual who goes well and could be a nice novice hurdler.

Form profile

Easy 11-length winner from Kappa Des Mottes in his third bumper at Hereford in April.

Trainer says

He won his bumper at Hereford, and it was a good performance that day. I think he will make a nice novice hurdler.

Form profile

148 rated chaser. Gained the second of two victories over fences last season when beating Be Aware a length in the Grade 2 Lightning Novices’ Chase at Windsor (2m) in January.

Trainer says

No Questions Asked is a lovely horse and he had a good season obviously winning the Lightning Novices’ Chase and winning at Ascot as well. I think he is a very likeable individual and he has got a big handicap in him probably over two/two and a half miles. He might make up from a Graded performer from there.

Form profile

In the thick of the action when falling two out in a point-to-point in Ireland in March.

Trainer says

He is a horse we really liked last season, and he picked up an injury in a racecourse gallop at Worcester. He had a season off, but I think he could feature amongst some of our better novices this season.

Form profile

Unraced

Trainer says

She goes very well and has a similar profile to Twin Horns. She was just too weak to run last season.

Form profile

126 rated hurdler. Finished runner-up, beaten half a length, to Ace Of Spades in a Pertemps Qualifier at Huntingdon (3m 1f) in January off his current mark.

Trainer says

He is high enough in the handicap over hurdles and will probably go novice chasing this year.

Form profile

120 rated hurdler. Made a winning debut over hurdles at Ffos Las (2m) last November when beating Bobby’s Nelson a neck. Unplaced in two further efforts at Cheltenham (2m 1f) in December and Ayr (2m 5 1/2f) in April.

Trainer says

He was a very good bumper horse, and he won his first start over hurdles last year. He pulled some muscles and missed part of the season and came back in a hurry at the end. He should end up being a very nice handicap hurdler this season.

Form profile

Third in his only point-to-point in Ireland in March.

Trainer says

She is a lovely mare and picked up an injury the same day as Oatsoeasy at Worcester. She should be a very nice mare going forward.

Form profile

140 rated chaser. Gained his second success over fences in a handicap chase at Sandown (3m) in January when beating Hunter Legend 13 lengths off a mark of 134.

Trainer says

Unfortunately, he had colic surgery after Cheltenham, but the vets have done an amazing job and he is back in. I would imagine we would be aiming like something like the London National. He jumped amazingly around Sandown in January.

Form profile

Made a winning debut for the stable when beating Par Avion a length and three quarters in a bumper at Taunton in February. Subsequently eighth, beaten 28 lengths, to Forthfactor in the Grade 2 Aintree bumper in April.

Trainer says

He is a lovely individual and he goes very well. He ran well in bumpers, and he will make a very nice novice hurdler this season, but he is all about chasing.

Form profile

Winner of his English point-to-point.

Trainer says

He was a very good winner of his English point-to-point and I am delighted to get him when we went to Doncaster Sales. He failed the vet on a little spur in his knee but if we can keep him sound, he will be a very nice individual.

Form profile

Winner of one of his two point-to-point bumpers.

Trainer says

I’m delighted to have him, and he won his point-to-point bumper very well. We will probably run him in a couple of bumpers then go novice hurdling with him.

Form profile

Winner of his second point-to-point in Ireland in April.

Trainer says

I’m a big fan of this horse and he just looks pure class. He is probably a novice hurdler through and through and he is going to be a lovely chaser. I would imagine he will be campaigned with the EBF Final in mind.

Form profile

127 rated chaser. Gained his last success in a handicap chase at Carlisle (3m 1/2f) in February when scoring by two and a quarter lengths from Hudson De Grugy off a mark of 124.

Trainer says

He had a really good season, and I was happy with how he progressed. We will be looking to do something similar and would could see him rocking up in some proper staying chases as well.

Form profile

134 rated hurdler. Gained both of his wins over hurdles at Wetherby (2m) last season Gained his last victory in a novice in January when beating Kaka’s Cousin 15 lengths.

Trainer says

He was a lovely novice last year and he is a bit of a bully so when he’s better than the other horses he wins well. When he was in better company and they were really on his tail he didn’t try very hard, so we are going to change the way we ride him, and we are going to drop him in stone last over two miles on soft ground. If we can teach him, he’s going to be a very decent horse.

Form profile

135 rated hurdler. Won his first two hurdles at Stratford (2m 1/2f) in October and Aintree (2m 1f) in December and failed by only a short head behind Kripticjim in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f) in January.

Trainer says

He is really nice horse and he won well and then was unlucky to be beaten in the Grade 2 at Cheltenham. To be honest he was all weak at the end of the season, but we thought it would be good experience for the horse, so we ran him at Cheltenham. He ran well until two out and made a mistake and that put paid to his chances. He will drop back in trip to two miles and will go straight novice chasing and I think he could end up being a decent novice this year.

Form profile

142 rated chaser. Scored for the third time over fences last season when beating Western Knight five and a half lengths in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot (3m) in February.

Trainer says

He had a brilliant year winning twice at Ascot and taking in the Reynoldstown Chase as well as winning at Carlisle. The ground was too tacky for him in the Irish National and we are going to start him off in a Pertemps Qualifier as a prep for the Coral Gold Cup. We will see where we are going from there, but he is a horse going the right way with a big future. He could end up being a Grand National horse.

Form profile

168 rated chaser. Made a winning reappearance in an Intermediate Chase at Haydock (2m 5 1/2f) last November when beating Iroko two and a half lengths and stepped up on that effort when beating Banbridge a nose in the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton (3m) on Boxing Day. Only eighth, beaten 31 lengths, to Gaelic Warrior in the Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup at Cheltenham (3m 2 1/2f) in March.

Trainer says

He picked up a little injury, and we will see how he is at Christmas time to decide if we run him at Cheltenham or not. He is in the spa at the moment and he will be grand - he just kicked himself in exercise and suffered an impact injury. It’s one of those frustrations.

Form profile

Scored by six lengths from Nimba on his debut in a bumper at Fontwell in March.

Trainer says

He won his bumper at Fontwell and will be a very nice horse this season going forward in novices' hurdles.

Form profile

Runner-up, beaten three quarters of a length, to Kripticjim on his stable debut in a novices’ hurdle at Newbury (2m 4 1/2f) last December.

Trainer says

He’s a very nice big chasing type and it was a very good effort first time out over hurdles at Newbury. He picked up an injury after that, and he should be able to compete at a decent level in hurdles. We are going to give him another season novice hurdling over two and a half to three miles.

Form profile

Winner of her only point-to-point in Ireland in March.

Trainer says

She is lovely and a proper Irish point-to-point mare who goes very well. She should make a decent mares’ novice hurdler this season.

Form profile

143 rated chaser. A winner twice last season including when short heading Mr Vango in the Grade 3 Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree (3m 2f) last December off his current mark.

Trainer says

Twig is in good form and will come back very much as a Veteran this year and be aimed at those Veterans’ races. He should be able to pick up one or two of those.

Form profile

Unraced

Trainer says

He is a very likeable four-year-old that I haven’t run yet, but she’s a mare who goes particularly well.

Form profile

141 rated chaser. A winner twice last season over fences and gained his last win in a handicap chase at Sandown (1m 7 1/2f) in January when beating Kotmask four and a quarter lengths off a mark of 134.

Trainer says

Vanderpoel is in good order, and he will start off in November in the two-mile handicap chase. I think he has a few good wins in him, and he is in great form. If I can keep him healthy, which is the hard bit, I think he can win some good races.

Form profile

Runner-up in his only point-to-point in Ireland in May.

Trainer says

He is a lovely individual by Golliath Du Berlais who goes well. He will relish a two-and-a-half-mile trip but probably has enough speed to start over two. He is going to be a fabulous chase but will make a very nice novice hurdler as well.

Form profile

Runner-up in both of her bumpers and came closest to victory on her debut at Warwick in February when failing by a neck behind Popton Point.

Trainer says

She was an absolute turn of for the books as she’s a really big Goliath Du Berlais mare and just didn’t look very quick at home. She turned up in two bumpers and was unlucky not to win one. She will make up into a fabulous mare going forward over two and a half miles and I think she could be very good over fences in time.

Form profile

Winner of his only point-to-point in Ireland in February.

Trainer says

He is a lovely individual who cost a few bob, and is a proper type. He is a big horse but knows where his feet are. He could make a really smart two and a half mile novice hurdler.

Form profile

119 rated hurdler. Made a winning reappearance in a handicap hurdle at Warwick (2m) in May when beating Nap Hand two lengths off a mark of 115.

Trainer says

He won a novice and handicap last season. He goes well and is hard as you like. He will start off over hurdles but may end up chasing.

Form profile

144 rated chaser. Gained his success at Ludlow (3m) in March when beating Beachcomber 14 lengths off a mark of 139.

Trainer says

Your Darling is one of the mainstays, and he will turn up one day and win a big pot, he always does. He will be a Veteran soon so we can run him in the Veterans’ Chases, so I’m looking forward to seeing how he gets on.