Pauling Wants Handstands To Blossom In Fleur De Lys

Ben Pauling is aiming 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 started the campaign with Cheltenham Gold Cup aspirations however has actually 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 tip of his capability.


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


"Being reasonable, he needs to go and prove himself still this season. His novice kind 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 genuine excuses.


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


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


"He has a Ryanair entry and he'll likewise have a National entry and he's just an extremely great horse with a substantial engine and when he is right he is really good, so hopefully he'll be quickly right on track."