Interview with Ben Pauling

I am currently adding the final touches to the February Update and delighted to announce it will include an interview with the in-form Ben Pauling. I spoke to Nicky Henderson's former assistant at lunchtime on Monday and ran through his most exciting prospects. Ben moved his operation to Naunton near Cheltenham last year and is reaping the rewards with a personal best campaign of 63 winners and operating at an impressive strike-rate of 23%. The Cheltenham Festival and Grade 1 winning trainer has assembled a strong team including some smart prospects who have yet to race for their new yard - these include a French recruit who is Cheltenham Festival bound and an expensive Irish pointer who will be unleashed in a bumper in the coming weeks. In total, there are 27 covered in the interview and some of those are likely to be in action this weekend. The February Update can be ordered via the Publications section of the site. 

Value Racing Club had another terrific afternoon on Tuesday with Dibble Decker and Only The Bold scoring at Huntingdon and Hereford respectively. Dibble Decker benefited from a return to a right handed track and the fitting of cheekpieces when taking the two and a half miles novices' handicap chase at the Cambridgeshire track, while Only The Bold made it two out of two since being bought for £30,000. The Jeremy gelding won by nine lengths at Bangor in November and, despite a ten pounds rise, it didn't halt his progress as he followed up in the staying handicap chase off 127 winning eased down by five lengths. Expect the eight year old to face another hefty increase in the ratings but he is unbeaten over fences and has more to offer. He has been a superb buy and there were around 15 members on hand to greet him at Hereford. The Midlands National at Uttoxter in March would have been an obvious target but due to the new rule introduced this season, he isn't eligible - novices must have run three times over fences beforehand. You couldn't make it up.

Diverge was highlighted as a novice hurdler to follow in the Christmas Special and, having shown promise on his jumping bow at Leopardstown on Boxing Day behind High Definition, he confirmed it with a runaway win at Punchestown. The son of Frankel won over ten furlongs on the Flat for Freddy Head in 2021 before being acquired privately. Owned by Chris Jones, he was prominent throughout before taking control at halfway. Staying on strongly, he beat twenty two opponents by upwards of 23 lengths and looks a decent type. Entered in the Sky Bet Supreme NH at Cheltenham, his owner has tasted Festival success in the past and it wouldn't be a surprise if he took his chance. Longer-term, he could be ideal for Aintree because he looks all speed and is a well bred individual.