Western Morning News (Saturday)
Pauling can maintain hot streak at Kempton
BOWTOGREATNESS is backed to continue Ben Pauling’s fantastic run with victory in the Coral Trophy at Kempton.
The Gloucestershire handler has been firing on all cylinders in recent weeks, highlighted by a treble at Ascot last Saturday. A Tuesday strike at Market Rasen and a Doncaster double on Wednesday kept the bandwagon rolling and Pauling will head to Kempton this weekend with high hopes of adding to his tally.
Bowtogreatness won twice from four starts over hurdles, but has yet to find the target since having his attentions switched to fences.
That being said, a runner-up finish in a competitive handicap at last year’s Grand National meeting at Aintree is evidence of what he is capable of, and he is only 1lb higher in the weights ahead of his latest assignment.
His post-Christmas comeback at Newbury was a little disappointing, but there was more promise in his most recent effort when fifth behind Cheltenham Festival contender Ginny’s Destiny at Prestbury Park late last month.
Bowtogreatness is proven in testing conditions and, stepping back up in trip, a bold bid is anticipated in this £150,000 feature.
Pauling might also hit the bullseye with Fiercely Proud, who holds solid claims in the Coral Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle. The trainer is strong in this division at present, with the likes of Tellherthename, The Jukebox Man and Handstands having all shown their worth at a high level.
Fiercely Proud himself won his first two starts over hurdles before finishing a very creditable third behind the highly touted Jeriko Du Reponet in a rescheduled Rossington Main at Doncaster last month.
He has a bit to make up on the reopposing Lump Sum, but at the prices he looks the value call.