Warwick outing will determine next step for Diva Luna

Ben Pauling is insistent there will be plenty more to come from Diva Luna over the larger obstacles after confirming Warwick is up next for his impressive Bangor winner.

The six-year-old dazzled in a foot-perfect chasing debut last week and will now head for the Listed Lady Godiva Mares’ Novices’ Chase on December 11, with the Naunton Grange handler warning he has barely started scratching the surface.

“We were delighted with her and she was all class,” said Pauling.

“She’ll go to Warwick for the Lady Godiva now and she really wasn’t fully fit at Bangor. She worked in Lambourn 10 days before and it was probably one of the worst pieces of work I have seen in Lambourn.

“At home she was then right and we rolled the dice to go to Bangor and she was good.

“She beat some nice horses and not in my wildest dreams did I expect her to win that without coming off the bridle.”

Pauling is also gearing up for Diva Luna taking on the boys after her trip to the midlands next month, wanting to make up for what he deemed a wasted campaign over hurdles last term.

He continued: “It’s been a while since we’ve seen her at that level and it was probably the Aintree bumper we last saw her hit that sort of form.

“It annoys me we were so wrong with her last year because that was her year where she could have shone. Realistically this year, once she’s gone to the Lady Godiva she’s going to have to take on the boys, probably in the Scilly Isles or something like that.

“She’s quick enough for two miles, but she’ll stay further.

“I personally think she needs to go up against the geldings before the Festival, so we know which route we’re going with her. The Warwick race will be the perfect next step.”