Harry Redknapp-owned The Jukebox Man set to feature in Ben Pauling’s strongest ever line-up of novice hurdlers for Cheltenham Festival

Trainer Ben Pauling will send the Harry Redknapp-owned Jukebox Man straight into the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next month as he shakes his strongest hand ever against novice hurdlers.

The Jukebox Man was last seen in the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury on December 30, remaining resolutely third behind Captain Teague.

And Pauling has chosen to keep the horse fresh for the festival, saying: ‘I like the Challow, but he takes it out of them. It was a grueling race and he will need every minute between then and the festival to get it right.’

Barters Hill, the 2015 Challow winner, put Pauling on the map at the start of his training career, while his first Festival winner was Willoughby Court in the 2017 Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle.

His current crop of novices includes Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hope Tellherthename, Fiercely Proud, two lengths third to Jeriko Du Reponet at Doncaster on Saturday, unbeaten Handstands and Champagne Twist, who was winner at Doncaster on Sunday.

Pauling added: “They are well above average. Tellherthename is our Supreme horse, probably via the Betfair Hurdle. I think he’s being overlooked. Just when we threw him in the Grade One Formby Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day he couldn’t go. Some people think he was outclassed in that class, but I know it was a downfall.

‘I would really like to play at Jeriko Du Reponet again with Fiercely Proud. He looked very green when we asked him to win the race.

“I don’t think he’ll go to the Supreme Novices hurdle, more likely Aintree.

‘Handstands probably have the most untapped potential. He doesn’t have to go to Cheltenham permanently, but he does have a mention in the Baring Bingham because I think he has a lot of ability.”