Ben Pauling

'''Ben Pauling''' (born October 1983) is a British National Hunt trainer. He has won multiple Grade 1 races, including the 2025 King George VI Chase.

==Background== Pauling grew up on his parents' arable farm in Gloucestershire, where his father trained horses for point-to-points. He went to Bloxham School and, in 2002, won the Young Engineer of Britain competition with a device for binding hay bales. He then graduated in land management from the University of Reading. Having ridden in point-to-points until an accident with barbed wire led to the loss of sight in his right eye and the loss of his licence, he decided to go into training and worked as assistant trainer to Nicky Henderson for several years.<ref name=OB>{{cite web|url=https://theownerbreeder.com/stories/big-bens-time/|title=Big Ben's time|date=1 February 2017|work=The Owner Breeder}}</ref>

==Career as a trainer== In 2013, Pauling took out a licence as a trainer and leased a yard at Bourton-on-the-Water, starting out with just eight horses.<ref name=OB/> His first winner was Raven's Tower, a £2,000 purchase. Barters Hill provided him with his first Grade 1 win, when ridden by David Bass in the Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury in December 2015. His first winner at the Cheltenham Festival was Willoughby Court in the 2017 Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle.<ref name=Kalendar>{{cite magazine |last=Gent |first=The Cotswolds |date=2023 |title=If you're going to dream, dream big |url=https://online.flippingbook.com/view/1030028212/88/ |magazine=Kalendar 2022/23 |publisher=The Jockey Club }}</ref><ref name=Stats>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/trainer/28480/ben-pauling/stats/|title=Ben Pauling|access-date=28 December 2025|work=Racing Post}}</ref>

In 2020, Pauling and his wife bought the Naunton Downs Golf Club and set about building state-of-the-art training facilities on the 200 acre estate. The horses were moved to the new yard in April 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thegolfbusiness.co.uk/2024/04/members-of-gloucestershire-club-take-legal-action-over-holes-reduction/|title=Members of Gloucestershire club take legal action over holes reduction|date=23 April 2024|work=The Golf Business}}</ref><ref name=Kalendar/> In his early years as a trainer, Pauling regularly used jockeys David Bass, Nico de Boinville, and Daryl Jacob, but they all had retainers elsewhere and he appointed Kielan Woods as stable jockey in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/fore-flashing-light-is-fair-way-to-warn-golfers-on-ben-paulings-new-gallop-adz4d1p7IYzZ/|title=Fore! Flashing light is fair way to warn golfers on Ben Pauling's new gallop|date=23 September 2021|work=Racing Post}}</ref> Woods was replaced by Ben Jones at the beginning of the 2024/25 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/hes-turned-into-an-absolute-monster-exciting-novice-chaser-has-ben-pauling-purring-as-he-explains-big-call-on-stable-jockey-alZ4c1q2dSwo/|title='He's turned into an absolute monster' - exciting novice chaser has Ben Pauling purring as he explains big call on stable jockey|date=22 October 2024|work=Racing Post}}</ref> Jones rode The Jukebox Man, owned by football manager Harry Redknapp, to victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton in December 2025, securing Pauling his most valuable win to date.<ref name=Stats/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/reports/the-jukebox-man-gives-harry-redknapp-his-biggest-success-after-denying-banbridge-and-gaelic-warrior-in-king-george-thriller-a2MIP0v7sSKj/|title='I love the game so much' - Harry Redknapp in dreamland as The Jukebox Man wins King George for the ages|date=26 December 2025|work=Racing Post}}</ref>

==Personal life== Pauling married Sophie Finch, daughter of trainer and owner Tim Finch, in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/pauling-pays-tribute-to-most-incredible-man-you-could-wish-to-meet-aWwgI6u82JLC/|title=Pauling tribute to "most incredible man you could wish to meet"|date=18 February 2017|work=Racing Post}}</ref> The couple have two children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/plus/ben-pauling-luckily-wife-didnt-go-labour-hh-vip-615635|title=Ben Pauling: Luckily my wife didn't go into labour|date=23 March 2017|work=Horse & Hound}}</ref> Pauling's sister is married to trainer Charlie Longsdon.<ref name=OB/>

==Major wins== {{flagicon|UK}} '''Great Britain''' *Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle - (1) Willoughby Court (2017) *Challow Novices' Hurdle - (1) Barters Hill (2015) *Kauto Star Novices' Chase - (1) The Jukebox Man (2024) *King George VI Chase - (1) The Jukebox Man (2025) *Scilly Isles Novices' Chase - (1) Handstands (2025)

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pauling, Ben}} Category:1983 births Category:British racehorse trainers Category:People from Gloucestershire Category:Living people Category:People educated at Bloxham School Category:Alumni of the University of Reading