Henry’s Friend another winner for Pauling and Jones

Ben Pauling and Ben Jones’ superb festive period showed no signs of stopping with Henry’s Friend running out a decisive winner of the Coral Mandarin Handicap Chase at Newbury.

The trainer and jockey combination tasted Grade One glory with The Jukebox Man at Kempton on Boxing Day and look to have another smart operator on their hands as Henry’s Friend struck on Newbury’s Christmas card for the second year running.

Last seen finishing fifth here in the Coral Gold Cup, he was sent off at 7-2 and breezed into contention as the runners headed into the home straight for the final time.

The seven-year-old was soon putting pressure on long-time leader Brave Kingdom and once going past Paul Nicholls’ charge two out, he was simply kept up to his work to finish six-lengths clear of Harry Fry’s runner-up Hymac.

Pauling said: “It was a very good performance and I’m delighted to see it, as to be honest I thought we had a right chance in the Coral Gold Cup and he made a terrible mistake halfway down the back which put paid to his chances.

“This just shows we were right to believe he is well handicapped and a nice horse for the future, it’s a race that is a nice pot to win and I’m delighted for the troops who own him. It has put us in a great place going forward.

“I think the Ultima (at Cheltenham) is an obvious target to me. He has tactical speed and is able to hold a position very well and that is probably the right race to target. I imagine we will look after him between now and then.

“Depending on what mark he gets he could get a Grand National entry. If he has a mark that would see him get in, I think he is the right type. But whether it would be a year too early, I’m not too sure.”