Diva Luna given Scilly Isles aim following Warwick stroll

Ben Pauling is excited to take on the geldings in Sandown’s Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase after watching Diva Luna enhance her growing reputation in the eventmasters.co.uk Lady Godiva Mares’ Novices’ Chase at Warwick.

The six-year-old has always been held in the highest regard by connections and was placed in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, but has excelled since switched to the larger obstacles this term.

After a bloodless victory on her chasing debut at Bangor, she was sent off the 1-4 favourite for further Listed honours and delivered in fine style, putting on an exhibition of jumping – bar one mistake – to come home a cosy three and a half lengths clear of Neil Mulholland’s Blue Las.

Pauling said: “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.”

Diva Luna was left unchanged at 10-1 by Coral for the Mares’ Chase at Prestbury Park and while that race appears likely to be on the agenda for the spring, first could come a shot at the Sandown Grade One Pauling claimed with Handstands 12 months ago.

“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,” added Pauling.

“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.”

Dan Skelton’s Moneygarrow (5-6 favourite) took full advantage of a drop in class to open his account over obstacles in the Aztec Aerosols Contract Filling Maiden Hurdle.

Second to Windbeneathmywings in a Listed bumper last term, the five-year-old has tackled the Persian War and bumped into the exciting No Drama This End so far in his two runs over hurdles, but this time obliged for favourite backers with a decisive seven-length success.

Skelton said: “I did have a lot of respect for the second and they were close together in a Listed event at Ascot and it is nice to see good bumper form coming forward and making it feel a reliable looking race today.

“I was happy he finished his race out as the last couple of times, admittedly against fancier opposition, he hadn’t really found as much as we were hoping or expecting. To actually put his head down after the last was good.

“He was only beaten seven or so lengths by No Drama This End, so reading back that form was probably all right in hindsight.

“We’ll probably find another novice before stepping up in trip to three miles in the spring, whether that is Aintree or Ayr or somewhere like that. I wouldn’t say he feels like a Cheltenham horse at this stage being honest, but we’ll allow him to tell us as the season goes on.”

The Skelton brothers were also on the scoresheet with Chuggy (2-1) who ran out an emphatic 12-length winner of the Aztec Aerosols Spray Some Joy Novices’ Handicap Chase.