Ben Pauling Stable Tour

Form profile

Winner of one of his 10 starts and currently rated 125 over hurdles. Disappointed when favourite for the Imperial Cup at Sandown (2m) in March when finishing 11th, beaten 25 ¾ lengths, to Go Dante off a mark of 126. Had previously finished runner-up, beaten a head, to Mothill in a handicap hurdle at Ascot (2m 3 1/2f) in February off a mark of 122.

Trainer says

He has an entry in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle and he might have an entry in the three-mile handicap hurdle on Saturday. I think I have been campaigning this horse over the wrong trip and the only time I have run him over two and half he has run very well. I think a lot of these juveniles stay well. He is in very good form with himself, will handle the ground and he likes to be ridden prominently. He is going to land a big one at some point and who knows when that might be.

Form profile

Winner of two of his 4 starts and currently rated 131 over hurdles. Progressing nicely and opened his account with a six and a half length success from Taras Halls in a maiden hurdle at Doncaster (2m 3 1/2f) in January. Stepped up on that effort when beating stablemate Pic Roc a length and a half in the National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown (2m 4f) in March off a mark of 124.

Trainer says

He had entries in the two and a half mile handicap, the three-mlle novice and will have an entry in the three mile handicap hurdle and possibly the two and a half mile novice. It sounds like I don’t know where I want to go with him but the Grade 1s maybe are going to be more competitive than they normally are, and he is a very straightforward horse and an improving horse. I think he is probably still the right side of the handicapper and whether or not we chuck him in a Grade 1 we will see.

Form profile

Winner of four of his 8 starts and currently rated 130 over hurdles. Having his first run since Aintree last year when beating Getaway Drumlee 16 lengths in a handicap hurdle at Doncaster (2m 1/2f) in March off a mark of 120.

Trainer says

Densworth is a horse who couldn’t have done it easier on his season reappearance. He had a setback at the start of the season and was supposed to be going chasing. I ran him in the conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at the meeting last year and I thought he would nearly win it and he had a dirty trachea wash. I will go there with just as much confidence as last year. I think he is in a great place and is very talented. He should give a good account of himself in the conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle.

Form profile

Well supported when making all for a three quarter length success from Listentoyourheart in a Listed Mares’ bumper at Market Rasen on her debut under Rules.

Trainer says

She did nothing but please me when she came over from Ireland and it looked a bit bold putting her in a listed race first time out, but she did it very nicely. We think she is very talented and should be up to it in the Mares’ bumper whether or not she wins it or not I wouldn’t swap her for anything. She took her run well. She lost a bit of condition after the run, but I was never going to run her before now and it’s a lovely bit of time to let her down and pick her up again. I think we have her exactly where we want her.

Form profile

Winner of four of his 14 starts and currently rated 128 over hurdles. Coming back from a 482-day break when beating Supreme Gift three quarters of a length in a handicap hurdle at Ascot (2m 7 1/2f) in February off a mark of 121.

Trainer says

He came back from an injury and won well at Ascot the other day. He is in very good form with himself and goes for the three-mile handicap hurdle.

Form profile

Winner of one of his 3 bumpers. Off the mark with a length and three quarter victory from Tom Doniphon in a bumper at Doncaster in February.

Trainer says

He won at Doncaster and probably wants a bit of better ground, but we will see what the ground is doing on Saturday, and he is in the bumper.

Form profile

Winner of a two mile five English point-to-point for Tom Ellis in April 2022 and was having his first run for the stable when comfortably scoring by two and a quarter lengths from Heart Over Head in a bumper at Market Rasen in February.

Trainer says

He had a long break and won his bumper well at Market Rasen. He is a very nice horse for the future, and he runs in the bumper as well.

Form profile

Winner of three of his 4 starts and currently rated 131 over hurdles. Added to his score in the Grade 2 Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso (2m 2f) in March when beating Jango Baie a half a length.

Trainer says

He is another horse who is an improving youngster and wouldn’t have the know-how yet for a big handicap. He won the Grade 2 novices’ hurdle at Kelso and would have to take a big step up forward in the Top Novices’ on Friday but he is in the two and a half mile novices’ as well. He is a lovely horse with a big future and is a great big chasing sort. He is big weak sort but he has plenty of ability and is in great form at home.

Form profile

Winner of five of his 23 starts and currently rated 149 over fences. In the form of his life and back on the score sheet when beating Frero Banbou seven and a half lengths in a Grade 3 Handicap Chase at Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f) in January off a mark of 140. Surpassed that effort when following up with a length and a quarter win from Crebilly in the Plate Handicap Chase back at Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f) in March off a mark of 143.

Trainer says

A lot will depend on the final confirmations for the National that will tell us where we are on the list. I would love to see him in the National but at the same time he is nearly favourite for the Topham and that is a big race in its own right. He has come out of Cheltenham in a way you could only dream of, and he is amazing form. He is going to love those fences, and in whichever race he runs in he will give a very good account of himself.

Form profile

Winner of two of his 5 starts and currently rated 135 over hurdles. Finished 10th, beaten 16 lengths, to Slade Steel in the Grade 1 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 1/2f) in March. Had previously scored by 14 lengths from Dartmoor Pirate in a novice event at Huntingdon (2m) in January.

Trainer says

I think he is unlikely to run as the ground will be against him and I just chucked him in in case it became better ground. This horse is talented but needs better ground. Twice I have run him on heavy ground he hasn’t been able to perform at all. He ran ok in the Supreme and was beaten 16 lengths but that wasn’t him. He is in the Scottish Champion Hurdle too and that is probably where I think where we would go.

Form profile

Winner of three of his 6 starts and currently rated 148 over hurdles. Hasn’t been out the first three in six starts and ran the race of his life on his latest outing in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (3m) in

Trainer says

We have always loved him, and he’s surprised a few with how well he ran in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. I think we all feel we could have won that, but it is very much a case of going to the Sefton with plenty of confidence. He has come out of the race better than we went into Cheltenham; we had missed a couple of piece of work prior to Cheltenham. He is in very good order with himself, and I dare say that he will take a bit of beating in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle.

Form profile

Winner of seven of his 16 starts and currently rated 147 over fences. Finished runner-up, beaten four and a half lengths, to Chianti Classico in the Grade 3 Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham (3m 1f) in March off a mark of 143.

Trainer says

Twig, who was second in the Ultima, goes for the three-mile handicap chase on National day. He should give a good account of himself.

Form profile

Winner of five of his 15 starts and currently rated 137 over fences. Returned to winning form in a handicap chase at Ascot (2m 5f) when last seen in November when beating Flegmatik nine lengths off a mark of 128.

Trainer says

He has been laid out for the Topham and is right up there in the betting as well. He goes there without doubt. In a dream world I would like to see a bit of good to soft but we are not going to see that, but this has been the aim for some time, and we will roll the dice and see. He has handled soft ground in the past and with this fellow it’s all about his mind set. We have worked on that from November until now, if giving him a break from November until now has worked then we have half a chance.