Pauling Wants Handstands To Blossom In Fleur De Lys

Ben Pauling is wanting 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 began the campaign with Cheltenham Gold Cup aspirations but has so far failed to repeat the top-class display screens he produced last term, leaving his handler looking for a performance that serves a timely reminder of his capability.


"He seems in excellent kind with himself, looks a photo and has had a wind op so I wish to believe he will run a great race in the Fleur de Lys," said Pauling.


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


"He has actually beaten Jango Baie a number of times (in the Sidney Banks and the Scilly Isles) and he's certainly an Arkle winner who has actually advance again this season and we were running a charming 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 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 willing to position Handstands on benefit, with a wide variety of contests possible in the spring.


Pauling added: "He's a and we want keep our options open and I won't just line him up in a Gold Cup for the hell of it. But if he plays himself into the equation 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 simply a really great horse with a substantial engine and when he is right he is excellent, so hopefully he'll be soon right on track."