Pauling and Jones enjoy Ascot treble

Ben Pauling enjoyed a vintage weekend with a sparkling treble on Saturday at Ascot, and failed by just a head from making it a four-timer.

Together with rider Ben Jones, they took the first two races with Pic Roc and Henry's Friend before narrowly missing out in the 2m3f handicap hurdle. The winning streak continued in the longer 2m 7f handicap toward the end of the afternoon where Honor Grey kept up the stable's fine winning streak.

It wasn't a day for faint hearts. After Pic Roc had prevailed in the Ascot Shop Novices Hurdle over 2m 3f, Henry's Friend put hearts in mouths to win the Reynoldstown Chase by just a head. 

Forty minutes later, it was a nod of the head that decides the outcome of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Handicap, where Neil Mulholland's Mothill just outpointed Bad, Jones aboard, to deny 3 consecutive winners.

There was rarely a better time for horses to be hitting a rich vein of form. In truth, though, Pauling has been on the go since May's seasonal outset. A small team of summer jumpers had put 19 winners on the board by the end of August, and the volume of runners has increased, as one might expect, since. 

35 individual winners speaks volumes as to the spread of talent, and whilst there are only 5 horses rated 140+, the Naunton yard is certainly advertising its talents regularly and profusely. Last year's record haul of 80 winners and £902k in prize money looks within their grasp to beat.