Ben Pauling (07 October 2026): "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."
Ben Pauling (23 February 2026): "I am this horse’s biggest fan and I don’t think he has had any luck this season whatsoever. He looked rusty at Carlisle and hung up the home straight after jumping and travelling well in the Betfair Chase. Ben (Jones) had never heard any issues with his wind but we had it checked and it was unstable. We have had that fixed and we came back relatively quickly for the Fleur de Lys and he probably a piece or two short trying to give 8lb to Protektorat. He hasn’t run a bad race all season and is in particularly good order now. He is in the Ultima, the Gold Cup and in the Ryanair. If Fact Or File and Gaelic Warrior end up in the Gold Cup you could easily see him ending up in the Ryanair. If it’s not that I could see him carrying topweight in the Ultima. If it was a weaker Ryanair that could be fun."
Ben Pauling (07 October 2025): "I couldn’t be happier with him, and he looks a million dollars. He looks bigger and stronger than last year, and he will start in the Colin Parker at Carlisle. He will go for either the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury or the Betfair Chase at Haydock. We will take his season from there and I don’t necessarily think he is a King George horse, but he might be suitable for the Cotswold Chase or something like that."
