'She's one of our best - her speed is deadly' - Ben Pauling has festival target for Diva Luna after Cheltenham win

Ben Pauling insists the "deadly speed" of Diva Luna will ensure she is a major contender at the Cheltenham Festival, and vows there is more to come after her gutsy win in the 2m4½f maiden hurdle.

Paddy Power cut her to 14-1 (from 25) for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle in March after she made all to hold off Newton Tornado and register a first victory since her breathtaking performance in Aintree's mares' bumper in April.

Pauling, who believes Diva Luna is one of the best horses he trains, has the option of the Grade 2 Jane Seymour at Sandown on February 13 as her festival warm-up.

The trainer said: "That was better but nowhere near her best. I wanted to settle her in behind and take a lead but she's locked on to the first and that was that.

Diva Luna (Kielan Woods) and Ben Pauling following her Cheltenham winCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I think she's going to be better over two miles, she's deadly with her speed. She'll end up getting three miles in time but at the moment she wants to get on with life, so we'll probably drop her back to two miles and go from there.

"It's just good to get her back in the winner's enclosure. She's very talented and I still think she's one of the best we've got. I need to see more than that to win a Mares' Novices' Hurdle but I think she'll find it."

Diva Luna's success completed a great festive period for the Gloucestershire stable, which celebrated a first Grade 1 winner in seven years when The Jukebox Man landed the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. The Brown Advisory-bound novice headlines Pauling's festival team.

Kielan Woods picked up a three-day ban for careless riding after Diva Luna drifted towards the runner-up, leaving him short of room in the home straight.

Back with a bang

Chantry House rolled back the years when causing an upset in the 3m1½f handicap chase for his first success since the 2022 Cotswold Chase.

The JP McManus-owned 11-year-old, a Grade 1-winning novice chaser who has lined up in a Cheltenham Gold Cup, was making his first start over fences since suffering a neck injury in the 2022 Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby.

Nicky Henderson, Nico de Boinville and groom Karolina Wernerova with Chantry HouseCredit: Edward Whitaker

However, he jumped as though he had never been away before scoring by six and a half lengths from Our Power, with the 5-6 favourite Broadway Boy failing to make an impression in fourth of five runners.

"It's great when these old boys come back," said Nicky Henderson. "It's been a long time but he's such a lovely horse. He's fooled us a little bit as we just let him do his own thing at home.

"I was trying to get him ready for the first hunter chases but I'm afraid I've probably blown that completely – that was the whole plan. There have been little glimmers but he looked like a young horse again there."

Kalif Du Berlais follows up

Paul Nicholls will keep his options open for Kalif Du Berlais following a comfortable success in the 2m½f novice handicap chase.

The five-year-old, who fell on his chasing debut, followed up his victory at Newbury in November when beating Vincenzo by nine and a half lengths.

Kalif Du Berlais: second victory over fences for Paul NichollsCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He's some horse," said Nicholls. "He's filling his frame and doing everything well. It's brilliant when a horse jumps like that and I love the way he's improving. He's only five and there's more to come. He's taken a step forward since Newbury and has enough experience to go anywhere now."

The trainer added: "There are plenty of good races in the spring, whether here or at Aintree, and he'll get two and a half miles without a shadow of a doubt. He'll have all the entries, including the Arkle, and next season should be even better as he can run in all those proper races."

Festival aim

Jonjo and AJ O'Neill could consider the new 2m4f novice handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival for Springwell Bay after his success in the £100,000 2m4½f handicap chase.

The eight-year-old travelled strongly for Jonjo O'Neill Jr before powering clear of Marble Sands by nine lengths.

Welcome return

Henrietta Knight rolled back the years to enjoy a first Cheltenham winner since taking out a licence again when Precious Metal landed the Listed bumper.

Knight, who came out out of retirement after 11 years, was at Southwell to watch 2-5 favourite Motazzen tee up an across-the-card double before 16-1 shot Precious Metal sprinted clear under Lilly Pinchin.

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