Horse racing was always in Ben Pauling’s blood; his life sent him on a path that his 10-year-old self probably didn’t expect.

An aspirational jockey, having competed in point-to-point races, riding winners during his childhood, despite his 6’3” frame. While he harboured ambitions to turn professional, an accident while riding point-to-point put an end to this with him going blind in his right eye which had to be removed.

It saw his license revoked and meant that he had to rethink his plans, instead turning his focus entirely to training.

Career Recalibration

While Pauling spent most of his youth focused on the training of horses, he actually went on to study engineering and was crowned ‘Young Engineer For Britain 2002’. It is this expertise which has aided him over the last two decades.

Indeed, it is this that helped to showcase his aptitude for mechanics and structure, which has in turn, helped him to apply these skills to the training of horses which he has witnessed considerable success with.

His pedigree came via six crucial years working with multiple champion trainer, Nicky Henderson at Seven Barrows in Lambourn, where he was Assistant Trainer. During these years, he learned skills which would be invaluable to the rest of his career, including the importance of patience.

In 2013, Pauling took out his own trainer license, beginning with a modest string of only eight horses, many of which were owned by family and friends and based at Burton Hill Farm in Gloucestershire.

November of that year brought his first winner; Raven’s Tower at Plumpton. Bought for only £2,000, he has been described as “very special” and still lives with the Pauling family.

Over the years, he has steadily increased his winner tally and seen his profile gradually rise in racing circles; certainly his education with Henderson paying off. In four years, he has seen his string of 20 boxes grow to 70 and, as a result, is regarded as one of the most notable up-and-coming trainers in the sport.

Many Key Milestones

Pauling has witnessed numerous successes over the years with increasing frequency; his first win at the Cheltenham Festival coming in 2017, with Willoughby Court (2017) in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle. Since then, he has gone on to claim further victories; Le Breuil (2019, National Hunt Chase), Global Citizen (2022, Grand Annual), and Shakem Up’Arry (2024, Plate Handicap Chase).

In 2022, Pauling moved to Naunton Downs; a state-of-the-art, custom built training facility with a 94 box yard and all-weather gallops.

The season that followed was record-breaking for Pauling. He doubled his winner and prize money tallies and repeated this again in the year that followed while he has also had significant Grade 1 success, most notably with The Juxebox Man.

Over the next few years, he will be watched with intrigue; he certainly has the potential to challenge for the top-trainer mantle once the likes’ of Willie Mullins hangs up his reins.