Pauling Wants Handstands To Blossom In Fleur De Lys
Ben Pauling is seeking to Handstands to prove his quality when he heads to Windsor for the Fitzdares Fleur de Lys Chase on Sunday.
The Grade One-winning beginner chaser started the project with Cheltenham Gold Cup goals but has up until now failed to repeat the top-class screens he produced last term, leaving his handler looking for a performance that serves a timely suggestion of his capability.
"He seems in great form with himself, looks a photo and has actually had a wind op so I wish to believe he will run an excellent race in the Fleur de Lys," said Pauling.
"Being practical, he has to go and prove himself still this season. His novice kind was as excellent as anyone's however, and yes he hasn't shown up at a number of the spring festivals, but there have been genuine reasons.
"He has beaten Jango Baie a number of times (in the Sidney Banks and the Scilly Isles) and he's certainly 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 carried left in the home straight."
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 wants to position Handstands on merit, with a wide variety of contests possible in the spring.
Pauling included: "He's a beautiful horse and we want keep our options open and I won't simply line him up in a for the hell of it. But if he plays himself into the formula and becomes a live outsider or something, then that's excellent.
"He has a Ryanair entry and he'll also have a National entry and he's just a really great horse with a huge engine and when he is right he is excellent, so ideally he'll be quickly right on track."