Pauling Wants Handstands To Blossom In Fleur De Lys

Ben Pauling is seeking 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 aspirations however has actually up until now stopped working to repeat the top-class displays he produced last term, leaving his handler searching for an efficiency that serves a timely suggestion of his ability.


"He seems in good type with himself, looks an image and has had a wind op so I would like to think he will run an excellent race in the Fleur de Lys," said Pauling.


"Being reasonable, he has to go and show himself still this season. His amateur kind was as great as anybody's though, and yes he hasn't turned up at a number of the spring celebrations, but there have been authentic reasons.


"He has actually beaten Jango Baie a couple of times (in the Sidney Banks and the Scilly Isles) and he's certainly an Arkle winner who has stepped forward once again this season and we were a beautiful race in the Betfair (Chase at Haydock) before he lugged 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 merit, with a wide variety of contests possible in the spring.


Pauling included: "He's a beautiful horse and we want keep our alternatives open and I will not 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 terrific.


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