Diva Luna has spring options after Cheltenham no-show

Ben Pauling is keen to given Diva Luna one more run this season after the classy mare was ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival due to an 11th hour setback.

As the problem was only minor, Pauling is weighing up options at both Aintree and Punchestown, with Diva Luna winning the Grade Two Mares’ Bumper at the former track in 2024.

“Diva was unfortunate. We obviously had the joint that she whacked prior to the Scilly Isles which we worked on and got absolutely A1, but she must have wrapped her other joint travelling or something so there’s a little bit of soreness,” he said.

“When I saw her with the vet on the Friday morning I had to accept that she was slightly sore so the idea now is to go to Aintree or Punchestown with her.

“I don’t have a preference. It’s taken a few days to get her spot on again, she’s very sound but once you’ve found a niggle you have to make sure it’s 100 per cent.

“She deserves another crack this season as a novice but she’ll be fine for next year whatever. There isn’t a race over two and a half miles at Punchestown for her but she’s effective over two, albeit she wouldn’t want quick ground over two. I don’t think I’d step her up to three.”

While Pauling had a couple of high-profile disappointments at Cheltenham, he did have a  winner through Meetmebythesea in the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase.

“He was brilliant, he gave himself a little cut on the back of his fetlock joint so he hasn’t done much since but he’ll be out in the next couple of days and he won’t have lost any fitness,” said Pauling.

“The jury is out whether we go again or not. I need to speak to JP (McManus, owner) and Frank (Berry, racing manager) about what we do but he’s obviously very exciting whatever happens.

“Maybe a Paddy Power would suit next year if he doesn’t go again. If he’d come out singing and dancing you might have thought two and a half at Aintree would have been hard to resist but Punchestown could be an option.

“We might turn up with some nice horses at Punchestown this year, rather than horses that are still surviving.”

Mondoui’boy was another who pleased Pauling when finishing fourth in the Albert Bartlett.

“He ran an absolute blinder and he’ll go to the Sefton at Aintree. I think he’s a good horse.”