Pauling looking to the future with The Jukebox Kid

Ben Pauling is looking forward to next season with The Jukebox Kid having seen him return home unscathed from the Irish Grand National.

Connections had planned a trip to Fairyhouse from some way out with the novice, and he was strongly fancied to go close.

Everything appeared to be going well until seven fences from home he made a jolting blunder and following another error at the next fence he was wisely pulled up by Ben Jones.

“He was going well. I don’t think I personally felt he was in the same rhythm as he was earlier in the season but he was holding his own very nicely,” said Pauling.

“He maybe wasn’t just going with the fluency we were accustomed to but down the back straight he made two almighty mistakes and that was the end of it and Ben wheeled him out. He was sound as a pound the next morning.

“We will look forward to next season with him. I didn’t work but it was pretty obvious for everyone to see why not. He turned up, he had a good go but just didn’t jump well enough on the day.

“He’s still inexperienced and there should be more to come, hopefully it’s only a minor bump in the road for him and it won’t affect him in the long term.

“I don’t quite think he’s a Grade One horse at the moment but time will tell. I think he’s well handicapped so there are some nice races for him. You never know, he might end up in a Grand National this time next year.

“I’ve still been very pleased with his season overall and I’m looking forward to the future, he’s only had seven races.”