Pauling hopeful Diva Luna will be on song at Cheltenham

Ben Pauling is confident there is still plenty more to come from Diva Luna over hurdles.

Top class in bumpers last season when she won the Grade Two event for mares at the Grand National meeting, she has failed to hit anything like the same heights to date in two outings over hurdles.

Beaten first time out by Metkayina, who had finished fourth in the Aintree bumper, Diva Luna then won at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day against the boys, making all.

Pauling remains convinced she is a good deal better than she showed there, though, and she will have one more race before the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in March.

“I’ve got options for her but nothing is set in stone yet, she might not run this weekend coming but the following one around Trials Day at Cheltenham,” said Pauling.

“She could either run in the Grade Two (Classic Novices’ Hurdle) or just a normal mares’ race but whatever she does, it will be her last run before the mares’ novices’ at the Festival.

“She seems in good order, so we’ll just get the job done and give her some more experience.

“She’s definitely better than what we have seen over hurdles. She was very impressive in her bumpers and she’s an incredible jumper of a hurdle.

“Horses don’t just lose their ability, it’s not been an easy early season for her but she’s come through it now and got the job done when she’s needed to, which I think says a lot about her. I think the improvement now will be massive.”