Betty's Tiara

The mare's best moment came this week, when she won at Worcester on August 19th. Before that, her form had been modest but not discouraging: a fourth at her last run, a sixth before that, and a close fifth at Aintree where she was racing under a weight penalty and only just got beaten. Pauling was encouraged enough by that Aintree run to point her toward the Listed mares' race at Cheltenham, which represents a step up in quality. She made a winning debut at Stratford-on-Avon back in August 2023, showing from the start that she belonged at the track.

What is striking is that despite ten races partnered with jockey Ben Jones, they have never managed a victory together — a blank that stands out against her overall record. In her typical Class 4 races, she has won just one of fourteen starts, a 7% win rate that underscores how tough mid-tier racing can be. Still, Betty's Tiara was raced just yesterday, meaning she is actively campaigned and in regular work. At eight years old, she is seasoned enough to know her trade, and Pauling's willingness to target the Cheltenham race suggests he believes she can still produce something worthwhile on a bigger stage.