'People laughed when we said he'd a chance' - Pauling relief after Grand Annual

Wednesday: Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase, Cheltenham

Ben Pauling sent television producers into a tizzy with his slip of the tongue when trying to sum up what being thrust back into the limelight meant for his stable after Global Citizen made a glorious return to chasing in the Grand Annual.

"It's been a long time since he's had his head in front," Pauling started, "but f***ing hell, excuse my language, he got it right today."

Few would hold Pauling’s outpouring of emotion against him. The past couple of seasons have been largely forgettable for the trainer and, in Global Citizen, a 28-1 chance tackling fences for the first time in over a year, he hardly headed into the festival with an obvious chance of getting the yard back in lights.

But the gamble paid off in spades. Global Citizen was there for Kielan Woods, no stranger to Grand Annual glory having triumphed aboard an even lesser-fancied Croco Bay at 66-1 in 2019, every step of the way and the rider’s smile said it all afterwards.

Pauling has recently moved to a new stable and winning the Grand Annual will go some way to readvertising his wares. It was a success dripping in skill as, for all that Global Citizen can be a classy animal on his day, he takes training.

"Eighteen months of patience," Pauling said, revealing the secret to getting the 2020 Arkle fourth back to fever pitch at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

Grand Annual: full result and race replay

Pauling added: "He wasn't himself after the Arkle. We always thought he'd go on but we went back over hurdles to sweeten him up. We thought going back over fences with him here for the first time in a long time might bring out something in him and it certainly did."

Asked if he was worried about the ground, Pauling said: "Yes, we were terrified. But he's a warrior. He's ten! People laughed when we said he'd a chance but, look, he's done it.

"He's been a warrior all his life and he deserved it. I can't believe it. This is what it's all about. Winners like this are important.

"Hopefully this is the start of us getting back on track because the past two and half years have been tough. We got a virus in the yard the year before last. Last year was about rebuilding and this is what it means."

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