Pauling Wants Handstands To Blossom In Fleur De Lys

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


The Grade One-winning novice chaser started the campaign with Cheltenham Gold however has so far failed to repeat the top-class screens he produced last term, leaving his handler searching for an efficiency that serves a prompt suggestion of his capability.


"He appears in good kind with himself, looks a photo and has actually had a wind op so I would like to believe he will run an excellent race in the Fleur de Lys," stated Pauling.


"Being reasonable, he needs to go and prove himself still this season. His amateur form was as excellent as anybody's though, and yes he hasn't shown up at a number of the spring celebrations, however there have been real reasons.


"He has beaten Jango Baie a couple of times (in the Sidney Banks and the Scilly Isles) and he's obviously an Arkle winner who has advance once again this season and we were running a beautiful race in the Betfair (Chase at Haydock) before he lugged left in the home directly."


Handstands has entries for both the Ryanair Chase and Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, with Pauling already 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 willing to position Handstands on merit, with a huge selection of contests possible in the spring.


Pauling included: "He's a beautiful horse and we want keep our choices 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 ends up being a live outsider or something, then that's fantastic.


"He has a Ryanair entry and he'll also have a National entry and he's just a very good horse with a substantial engine and when he is right he is great, so hopefully he'll be soon right on track."