Even as a schoolboy, Ben Pauling demonstrated he possessed an astute, analytical mind, and mastery of clearly-defined objectives when he secured Britain’s Young Engineer of the Year award.
These were talents that would serve him admirably in years to come.
And so it has proved.
Though that prize – the reward for his invention of a hay-binding device - led to him being offered a commission in the Royal Engineers and places to read engineering at three universities, instead he opted to study land management at Reading before preparing himself for his chosen career with the best education money couldn’t buy.
During his six-year stint as Nicky Henderson’s assistant, he oversaw such elite athletes as Long Run, Bobsworth, Sprinter Sacre, Binnocular, Punjabi, Riverside Theatre, and Finian’s Rainbow.
As much as all jumps-training careers are built on dreams, of welcoming in elite victors to the acclaim of the Cheltenham throng, of a Grand National triumph, of maybe, just maybe, developing a potential championship-winning stable, it has been apparent right from the start that this character’s aspirations have been engineered and constructed on the most solid of foundations.
From a rented yard near Boughton-on-the Water, where he launched his career, he and wife Sophie moved to Naunton Downs Golf Club in 2020 and have developed an operation, stabling well over 100 horses. Intriguingly, they have maintained a nine-hole course in a golf and gallops enterprise at their base a few miles east of Cheltenham racecourse.
We spoke five weeks before Cheltenham Festival as Pauling prepares to witness his five-year-old Handstands contest the Listed Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon.
Denne historien er fra March 2024-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
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Denne historien er fra March 2024-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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LOOKING BRIGHT FOR IRISH STARS
Karl Hedley reports as jumps challengers pile on the heat across the water
WELL SET TO STEP AHEAD
Ben Morgan has ten warming prospects to follow in the coming weeks
CUE FOR MANY A CELEBRATION
Graham Buddry recalls the life and times of jumps legend Cue Card
KID KAN DOO FOR NICHOLLS
Paul Jacobs casts a close eye over leading picks for this month's big races
TWISTER RUNS MASTER CLASS
John Anthony watches Nigel Twiston-Davies' star catch time judges' eye
NO LEAVES ON LINE TO SLOW THESE FLYERS
Simon Nott enjoys a West Country Weekend catching up with ring pals
EXPECTATIONS SOAR AT RIDGE
Nick Townsend talks to rising Newmarket training star James Owen
KID KAN DOO FOR NICHOLLS
Paul Jacobs casts a close eye over leading picks for this month's big races
NORMA'S COLOURS ARE FLYING PROUD
Robert Cooper sees Percy Willis and Kaadam grace white and green spots and red cap
CHIANTI FLOWS AS NEW LION GROWLS
Prior to the National Hunt season 'proper' getting underway at Chepstow the question on many people's lips was whether or not Willie Mullins would target a second consecutive British trainers' title.