Join

Pauling: Cheltenham still very much our aim with Diva Luna

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Thu 12 Feb 2026

The Cheltenham Festival will be next for Diva Luna, providing Ben Pauling wins his race against time to prepare his exciting novice for an outing in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase.

Third in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at National Hunt racing’s premier meeting 12 months ago, the seven-year-old has excelled since sent chasing this season, wowing on debut in a Bangor Listed event before striking again at that level in fine style at Warwick in the Lady Godiva.

Pauling had intended to run Diva Luna in the Grade One Scilly Isles at Sandown in late January, but she suffered an untimely setback which means it is now full focus on a trip to Prestbury Park in March for a race for which she is as short as 8-1 with the bookmakers.

“She’s in good form and working away again now and it will be very much our aim to get her to Cheltenham,” said Pauling.

“If she wasn’t to get to Cheltenham for any reason, we would look forward to Aintree and the two-and-a-half-mile novice chase.

“It would be straight to Cheltenham and there isn’t time to squeeze a prep run in now, which is not an issue with her as she’s very easy to get right.”

Nideeb booked for Lodge

Ice-cool Arctic impresses

The Irish Angle: Johnny Ward's top tips for Saturday

Flynn issues mark of approval

Lion’s Pride ready to roar in Qatar feature, says Gosden

Todays top offer

Get 1,000,000 Free Spins on J Cole

T&Cs Apply

18+ New customers only. Bet £10+ on pre-match accas with 4+ legs, min odds 3/1 (4.0) within 14 days of sign-up. Get 4x £5 Horse Racing Free Bets and 50 Free Spins, valid for 7 days on selected bets and games only. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org

Claim Now

Featured offers

Bet £20 Get £40 in free bets with BetVictor

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

18+ New Customers only. Opt in, bet £20 on Horse Racing, 1/1+ odds in 7 days, no cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on set markets valid 7 days. Debit Card / Apple Pay payments only. T&Cs apply. See below. begambleaware.org | Please Gamble Responsibly.

Bet £10 & Get £30 in free bets

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

New Customers only. Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5 and £10 to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. 18+ Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.

Testing JC

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

Bet £10 Get £20 in free bets + £10 Casino + money back if 2nd to SP fav EXTERNAL LINK ANCHORAnother LINK

Bet £10 get £40 in Free Bets with Midnite

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

This is a test description for a Midnite offer etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc

Bet £10 get £40 in Free Bets

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

Please bet responsibly

My Account

Home

Watch

Live

Replays

On Demand

Catch Up

Tv Schedule

RTV Play Schedule

Racecards

Today's Runners

Non-Runners

Tommorow's Runners

Racing Calendar

Results

Tips

Racing TV Tipsters

Nap Of The Day

News

All

Latest

Highlights

Columnists