ROOKIE racehorse trainer Ben Pauling, from Bourton, has been able to celebrate his first winner in time-honoured fashion – but with a new twist.

Ben's stable sponsors, the Cotswold Brewing Company, have created a new beer to commemorate the feat.

The Ravens Tower ale has been brewed in honour of Ben’s first winner of the same name last month.

Rick Keene, of the Cotswold Brewing Company, decided the winner was a suitably important landmark.

“It’s fantastic that Ben has had his first winner only two months after taking over his own yard. It’s definitely something to celebrate with a new brew – so we have come up with Ravens Tower. We think it’s the first beer to be made for and named after a horse.”

Pauling said: “We are delighted with Raven’s Tower’s win – it’s a fantastic result for all my team at the yard who have worked so hard to make this happen.

“Since I decided to start my own yard after working for Nicky Henderson I have had so much local support. Rick and Emma at the Cotswold Brewery have been great – beer and racing have traditionally gone hand in hand and with the brewery less than two miles down the hill from us it’s a perfect partnership.

Pauling, 30, set up his own racing yard at Bourton Hill Farm, just south of Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds, after learning his trade with champion trainer Henderson in Lambourn for six years. He already has 18 horses under his care.