Pauling Wants Handstands To Blossom In Fleur De Lys

Ben Pauling is aiming to Handstands to show his quality when he heads to Windsor for the Fitzdares Fleur de Lys Chase on Sunday.


The Grade One-winning beginner chaser began the campaign with Cheltenham Gold Cup goals but has so far stopped working to repeat the top-class displays he produced last term, leaving his handler searching for a performance that serves a timely pointer of his ability.


"He seems in great form with himself, looks a picture and has had a wind op so I wish to think he will run a great race in the Fleur de Lys," stated Pauling.


"Being reasonable, he has to go and prove himself still this season. His novice kind was as good as anyone's though, and yes he hasn't turned up at a number of the spring festivals, but there have actually been genuine reasons.


"He has beaten Jango Baie a number of times (in the Sidney Banks and the Scilly Isles) and he's clearly an Arkle winner who has actually advance again this season and we were running a lovely race in the (Chase at Haydock) before he carried left in the home directly."


Handstands has entries for both the Ryanair Chase and Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, with Pauling currently holding a strong hand in the blue riband with his King George VI Chase hero The Jukebox Man.


Handstands is poised for Windsor on Sunday (David Davies/PA)


With that in mind he is ready to place Handstands on merit, with a huge selection of contests possible in the spring.


Pauling included: "He's a lovely horse and we want keep our alternatives open and I won't simply line him up in a Gold Cup for the hell of it. But if he plays himself into the formula and becomes a live outsider or something, then that's fantastic.


"He has a Ryanair entry and he'll likewise have a National entry and he's simply a very good horse with a huge engine and when he is right he is excellent, so ideally he'll be quickly right on track."