Diva Luna dazzles on fencing bow at Bangor

Ben Pauling was delighted and relieved in equal measure after seeing Diva Luna make a foot-perfect start to her career over fences in the Yorton Mares’ Novices’ Chase at Bangor.

The Grade Two bumper winner won over hurdles at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and was placed at the Festival in March, but it a measure of the regard in which she is held that her trainer feels she was never at her best last season.

Making her fencing bow in Listed company, Diva Luna was a 7-4 shot in the hands of Ben Jones and jumped fluently on the front end throughout to keep the pressure on her nearest pursuer Queens Gamble and the 11-10 favourite Joyeuse.

Queens Gamble was a spent force from the home turn and with Joyeuse struggling to bridge the gap, Pauling’s mare continued to pour it on in front, safely negotiating the final obstacle to put the seal on an impressive 19-length victory.

“We haven’t seen her like that, I don’t believe, since her bumpers,” Pauling told Sky Sports Racing.

“Last year she was wrong in her trach wash for so long and then when we got her back she was doing too much and never giving herself a break.

“That (today) is a relief to me as we can leave the hurdles season behind, as while she finished third in the Mares Novices’ Hurdle it was a real disappointing season – she was just not herself.

“Today was a a huge step in the right direction, she jumped nicely, she learnt as she went and I think she enjoyed the ground. It’s a great start and it’s a relief to have her back in one piece.”

Diva Luna is set to take on her own sex again on her next start and was cut to 16-1 from 33-1 for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase at the Festival by the sponsors.

On future plans, the Naunton Downs handler added: “She’ll go to Warwick for their Listed mares’ chase on December 11 and once we see how she gets on there we’ll decide whether we put her back against the boys or what we do. I always thought she was good enough to take the boys on because these 7lb mares’ allowances are so favourable when you’ve got a good one, but last season we were way off it.

“We’ll just take it one step at a time, hope she can do the business at Warwick and give us some nice options.”

Pauling and Jones were completing a double on the card following the earlier success of Fine Casting (9-2) in the Paul Ferguson Jumpers To Follow Handicap Chase.