Racehorse trainer Ben Pauling took the plaudits at Huntingdon Racecourse on bank holiday Monday after Hardy Boy secured a first victory over fences in the Garden Party Novices' Handicap Chase.

Having left the Gloucestershire handler frustrated after filling the runner-up spot at Ffos Las, Wales, on Saturday (May 27), the gelded son of Diamond Boy atoned for that effort when running out a clear cut seven and a half-length winner of the two miles and four furlongs feature prize.

Pauling, a Grade One-winning trainer, said of the successful 8-11 favourite: "I was furious, to be honest, with the way he ran at Ffos Las on Saturday [May 27].

"He is such an able horse, and he jumped really well at Market Rasen the time before, but he didn't go at all at Ffos Las.

"The plan was to win at Ffos Las and then run under a penalty at Huntingdon, but even though he got beat at Ffos Las, he was so fresh so we decided to go again.

"He was hardly foot perfect, but Luca [Morgan, jockey] made a man of him down the back.

"He will stay going for a little while as he wants better ground."

Pauling had earlier struck gold during the final fixture of the Cambridgeshire track's 2022/23 season with Chess Player (3-1), who made his first start since October a winning one by three and a quarter lengths in the Bet At racingtv.com Handicap Chase.

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He said: "He is a horse that has always had plenty of ability, but he is physically challenged.

"He got an infection in a hair follicle and had five withers removed, but he has built muscle back up in that area now.

"He usually takes a race to get fit as he is quite a stuffy horse, but I'm pleased to see him win and hopefully he can go on from here."