Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase
Grade 1, Sandown 14:35
£100,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus,
2m 4f 10y, Class 1  
Saturday 31st January 2026

Ben Pauling is relishing the prospect of taking on the geldings after Diva Luna continued her upward trajectory with a polished display in the eventmasters.co.uk Lady Godiva Mares’ Novices’ Chase at Warwick.

Always highly regarded by her connections, the six-year-old was placed in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at last season’s Cheltenham Festival and has taken particularly well to fences since making the switch this term. An easy success on her chasing debut at Bangor was followed by Listed company at Warwick, where she justified her 1-4 favouritism with authority, producing a largely faultless round of jumping to pull three and a half lengths clear of Neil Mulholland’s Blue Las.

Pauling was understandably relieved as much as he was impressed.

“She’s amazing and it’s a huge relief because when you are 1-4 favourite in a Listed race with a penalty, you are still racing against good horses. I know it wasn’t a big field but that is because she was in it and obviously scared off a few.

“She obviously made one small mistake which wouldn’t have done her any harm. Ben (Jones, jockey) held her hand and David Bass (on Wyenot) took us on and gave us something to aim at. Down the back she was electric and from then it was all over bar the jumping.

“It’s very exciting and she’s a real professional.”

Coral left Diva Luna unchanged at 10-1 for the Mares’ Chase at Prestbury Park, a contest that remains firmly on the radar for the spring.

Before that, however, Pauling is keen to explore a bold alternative at Grade One level, in a race he landed 12 months ago with Handstands.

“She’s earned the opportunity to give it a go in a better race now and I think I want to go to the Scilly Isles,” he said.

“She’s easily good enough and gets the mares’ allowance against the boys which is a big thing, especially for her being such a strong mare.

“I think Sandown is where I want to be and then we can go for the Mares’ Chase depending on how she goes and without the option of the two-and-a-half Grade One at the Festival. She’s not slow but I wouldn’t necessarily think she’s an Arkle horse.

“She’s a lovely horse and a very exciting horse. I’m delighted for her owners, the Maclennans, who are big supporters of mine and deserve every bit of luck they get with her.”

Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase
£100,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m 4f 10y, Class 1
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