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 amateur chaser started the campaign with Cheltenham Gold Cup goals but has so far failed to duplicate the top-class screens he produced last term, leaving his handler browsing for a that serves a timely pointer of his capability.


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


"Being sensible, he needs to go and show himself still this season. His newbie form was as good as anyone's though, and yes he hasn't shown up at a number of the spring celebrations, however there have actually been real excuses.


"He has actually beaten Jango Baie a couple of times (in the Sidney Banks and the Scilly Isles) and he's clearly an Arkle winner who has advance again this season and we were running a lovely 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 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 put Handstands on merit, with a huge selection of contests possible in the spring.


Pauling included: "He's a charming 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 excellent.


"He has a Ryanair entry and he'll also have a National entry and he's simply an extremely nice horse with a huge engine and when he is right he is very good, so ideally he'll be soon right on track."