Ben Pauling and Ben Jones’ superb festive period showed no signs of stopping with Henry’s Friend running out a decisive winner of the Coral
Handicap Chase at
.
The trainer and jockey combination tasted Grade One glory with The Jukebox Man at Kempton on Boxing Day and look to have another smart operator on their hands as Henry’s Friend struck on Newbury’s Christmas card for the second year running.
Last seen finishing fifth here in the Coral Gold Cup, he was sent off at 7-2 and breezed into contention as the runners headed into the home straight for the final time.
The seven-year-old was soon putting pressure on long-time leader Brave Kingdom and once going past Paul Nicholls’ charge two out, he was simply kept up to his work to finish six-lengths clear of Harry Fry’s runner-up Hymac.