Ascot Saturday reports, reaction and free video replays

Treble tops for delighted Pauling

Fiercely Proud made it a real red-letter day for Naunton Downs handler Pauling when reviving his own fortunes after taking a step up in trip in his stride in the Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle.

After enduring what he described as 'one of the worst days' as a trainer last Saturday the Grade One-winning trainer showed what the difference a week can make after celebrating a hat-trick of winners at the Berkshire track thanks to a first victory in more than a year for the Tim Radford-owned seven-year-old

Buried amongst rivals early on in the extended two mile three furlong test, the 8/1 chance was brought steadily into contention in between the final two flights before settling down to battle it out with eventual runner-up John Barbour.

Despite still having to roll his sleeves up to find a way past the recent Uttoxeter scorer the gelded son of Iffraaj did just that when getting up close to the line before prevailing by a neck under Kielan Woods.

Pauling said: “Last Saturday was one of the worst days of my racing career. It was a disaster. It was bottomless ground and we are not a yard that operates on desperate ground. We train them to be classy quick horses not sloggers.

“This lad has had his day over two miles, but he now wants further. That was a very good ride. Ben is such a huge part of everything going forwards, but it is lovely for Woodsy to pick up a big Saturday winner for us.

“I wasn’t confident at all because I just feel this horse gives you everything when he wants to and you are never quite sure when that is going to be.

“Off the back of his last run he looked weak in the finish, but he looked good there today. I could see turning for home Woodsy was confident but it was what he would find over this further trip, but he stayed on very well.

“John Barbour is a fast improving horse so I think we have beat the right horse. I think he got fed up with going flat out over two miles so stepping up in trip was to me the only option.

“If it had not worked I would have been stuck in a rut so I’m pleased to have seen it work.”

Irish National plan for Jukebox

The Jukebox Kid moved a step closer to an outing in the Irish Grand National after continuing his progression over fences with a near flawless display in the Injured Jockeys Fund Ambassadors Programme Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase.

Having claimed a handicap chase over course and distance on his last start the Jukebox Jury gelding made it three wins from four starts over fences with an impressive front running performance in the Grade Two to give Pauling and Ben Jones their second winner on the card.

Sent straight into the lead by the rider, the 4/9 favourite never looked in any danger of being the victim of an upset with his jumping keeping his two rivals at bay throughout the three mile test.

Although Western Knight attempted to go with The Jukebox Kid over the final two fences he could never quite get close enough to land a telling blow with Jones continuing to get a good tune out of his mount. And after meeting the last on a good stride the odds-on market leader bounded away up the run in to score by five-and-a half lengths.

Pauling said: “Jumping is his asset. I think this horse gets beaten in the first mile rather than the last mile. He can be a bit cold over the first mile. He was cold at Cheltenham, and the ground was quick that day, but he wants to get his toe in and get into a rhythm. "Once he is in a rhythm I said to his owners he won’t get beat in the last mile he will only get beat in the first mile.,

“I was really pleased to see him jump off and attack his fences. I was a bit concerned with it being a three horse race that it might be a bit of a muddling affair, but Ben set out to make it and he did it very nicely. He just gets stronger as the race goes on. He is going the right way.”

Although the trainer has not totally ruled out an appearance in the Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase he admitted that a trip to Fairyhouse on Easter Monday is more likely for The Jukebox Kid.

Pauling added: “I don’t think he will go to Cheltenham at this moment in time, possibly a tilt at the Irish Grand National is something we might look at it. I just feel he is on the improve and is at the right end of the handicap.

“I think he will stay every yard of the trip. He is not necessarily a horse that comes out of his race brilliantly and Ryan Alderman that looks after him knows him very well so he will tell me whether he is ready or not.

“He will get an entry in the National Hunt Chase, but it is not a certainty. As time goes on more novices are taking on these more senior handicappers. The National races used to be about the more exposed handicapper that was right on the day, but these days they seem to be won by novices more. The Irish Grand National had been on my mind before this.”

Pauling thinks big with Mondoui’boy

Earlier Mondoui’boy threw his hat into the ring to form part of Pauling’s team for the Cheltenham Festival after making light work of his rivals in the Betfair Novices’ Hurdle at Ascot.

Picked up for £115,000 out of the David Maxwell dispersal sale earlier in the season the gelded son of Castle Du Berlais looks money well spent after backing his debut success over hurdles at Ludlow in the extended two mile three furlong test.

Always travelling well in the hands of Jones the well-backed 8/11 favourite ranged up almost effortlessly approaching the second last to join long time leader Catchintsavo to mount his challenge.

And after hitting the front the odds-on marker leader quickly put matters to bed with Jones pushing the six-year-old, who holds entries in both the Turners Novices’ Hurdle and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival, out to score by seven lengths.

Pauling said: “His bumper form was very good and I just liked the size and scope he had. I’m delighted to have got him. He had to take a massive step forward. He didn’t see half of Ludlow so I didn’t really see how he jumped. That was the first time I had been able to see how efficient he was, long and short, but he was very quick in and out.

He looked a little bit keen early doors, but I was pleased to see him settle as Ben just reined him back into third or fourth and it looked pretty smooth really.

“His jumping was exceptional. I was quite impressed how he quickened up. I thought it was a good performance. Ben got off him and said he is a lovely horse for the future.”

Following the race Paddy Power and Sky Bet trimmed Mondoui’boy into 25/1 from 40/1 for the Turners, however Pauling admitted he will let the dust settle before deciding whether to send him to the Festival or wait for Aintree.

He added: “He is in the Turners and the Albert Bartlett, but if that came too soon then he would go to Aintree instead, but I think he is at that level. Cheltenham is three weeks on Tuesday and we will be going there only if we genuinely think it was an option. Ben got off and said I wouldn’t be coming back in trip as I was flat out early doors, so I supposed you would be leaning towards the three mile rather than the two and a half mile race.

“He finished like a fresh horse so we will see how he comes out of it. Aintree would be easy to get him ready for, Cheltenham would be a question mark. On a flat track you would go three miles with him."

Two welcome winners for Lacey

Tom Lacey will take a closer look at potential outing at next month’s Cheltenham Festival with Montregard, who got his career back on track when swooping late in the Betfair Swinley Handicap Chase.

Having come up just short behind subsequent Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase scorer The Jukebox Kid at the track last month the progressive seven-year-old went one better in the £100,000 despite being three pounds out of the weights.

Turning for home the 10/3 chance appeared to be travelling best of those still in with a fighting chance of winning the three mile contest.

And it proved to be that way with Jonathan Burke timing his challenge right aboard the JP McManus-owned son of Joshua Tree, who powered clear after the last before going on to score by two and three quarter lengths.

Lacey said: “I’m over the moon. To win a one hundred thousand pound race at Ascot on Saturday is what you want.I felt he deserved to have a go at a really nice pot off a low weight and it has paid off. They may have gone a tad slower today, but he did seem to travel well.

“It is never an ideal situation to be out of the weights but when you are going for a one hundred thousand pounds pot why wouldn’t you run in it. He has run incredibly well around here every time he has been asked to. His three runs around here have been super.”

Following the race Lacey hinted that Montregard could now be aimed at the Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase on March 12th.

He added: “We will talk to Frank (Berry) and the boss and I wonder if he would get into the Kim Muir. It is a thought, but no more than a thought.”

There was further success on the card for Herefordshire-based handler Lacey after Walden stayed on best of them all to claim victory in the Betfair Handicap Hurdle.

Despite having stamina to prove on his first start over the extended two mile seven furlong trip the 14/1 chance clearly appreciated the extra yardage when proving six and a half lengths too strong for Diamatiste.

Lacey said: “The step up in trip appeared to bring out huge improvement. He has been consistent, but he didn’t get the greatest ride at Ludlow last time out as he got pushed too far back and never really handled the track. I didn’t expect him to win like that. He has had problems with his feet, but he has done really well.”

King excited by debut winner

Alan King appears to have an exciting prospect on his hands in Martini Majesty who made her debut a triumphant one in taking fashion in the Betfair Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race.

The daughter of Planteur, who is a close relation to the yard’s late Group One winner Trueshan, showed a decisive turn of foot late on to leave her rivals toiling in the extended one mile seven furlong prize in the hands of Tom Bellamy.

It looked as though early leader Ms Des Fois had plotted the perfect path to victory from the front having dictated matters from the outset with many of those in behind appearing unable to quicken past the Soldier Of Fortune filly.

However, she was unable to repel the 17/2 chance who sprouted wings around the field entering the home straight before going on to oblige by two lengths to set up a potential trip to Aintree in April.

King said: “She has done that well. For a four year old to do that is very encouraging. Even with the weight allowance it is tough to beat the older horses. She is a three-parts sister to Trueshan. She is out of a half-sister to Trueshan, by the same sire. Hopefully she is pretty smart.

“We will give her plenty of time. I would have thought Sandown Park would have come too soon and Aintree is a possibility, but we will see how she comes out of this.”

More from Sporting Life

• Free bets
• Racecards
• Fast results
• Full results and free video replays
• Horse racing news
• Horse racing tips
• Horse racing features
• Download our free iOS and Android app
• Football and other sports tips
• Podcasts and video content

Safer gambling

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.

Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.