A Grade One tilt now beckons for Handstands, after he ran out a transparent winner of the DragonBet Towton Novices’ Chase at Ffos Las so as to add one other Grade Two victory to his CV.
Carrying a 5lb penalty for his win on the identical stage at Sandown in December, the Ben Pauling-trained gelding was to the fore from flag-fall alongside Cherie d’Am.
The latter finally dropped away tamely after Handstands and Ben Jones took over on the run to the fourth-last, which the even-money favorite was just a little sluggish at.
Lord Of Thunder did very nicely to get again into it and try and go along with him after being severely hampered by the autumn of Vary, however Handstands at all times regarded in management and drew immediately after the final.
They had been the one two finishers, in what proved a gruelling affair.
Pauling stated: “I used to be delighted and we had been studying lots as we have now by no means run on that cheesy, holding, hard-work floor earlier than.
“I’ve heard the response and a few individuals advised he was a bit novicey, however I believe he was simply studying to get out of the bottom to be sincere and making an excessive amount of effort and ballooning a pair because of this.
“Ultimately he has done it very well and Ben was delighted with how he jumped after he ballooned the ditch and it’s another step in the right direction. It looked a competitive enough field on paper and I know there was some misfortune at the third-last but I think they were all coming to the end of their tether and it was probably why they fell.
“I used to be actually fairly taken with how nicely he was going turning for residence, he simply quickened off the bend and type of put the race to mattress and after the final he in some way quickened once more.
“Ben said he finished the race as fresh as a daisy and doesn’t think he has had an overly-hard race which is quite extraordinary considering the ground there today. I’m just delighted and it’s another step on the road for a nice, progressive young novice chaser.”
Handstands may now make a comparatively fast return to motion at Sandown on February 1 for a step as much as Grade One firm within the Virgin Wager Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase.
And with Pauling and the gelding’s homeowners prepared to bypass the Cheltenham Competition and a possible conflict with high-ranking stablemate The Jukebox Man, the six-year-old may as a substitute head to Aintree within the spring.
“It’s a quick enough turnaround for the Scilly Isles, but that would very much be on our minds if he comes out of this in good form,” continued Pauling.
“The Radfords have never been overly fussed by going to Cheltenham with him this year, they are not trying to avoid it, but they think the Scilly Isles and possibly Aintree might be the way forward and I can’t say I disagree.
“If we handle to get to the Scilly Isles in good type he could have been busy sufficient and can be his fourth run of the season and that and on to Aintree may spherical up a stunning season for him actually.”
He went on: “We have some beautiful horses coming by way of and are fortunate to have the homeowners to purchase us these horses. So I’ve to say an enormous thanks to them actually.
“Of course I wouldn’t really want to go and take on The Jukebox Man at Cheltenham, but if the Radfords wanted to go I would. However, it’s a nice position to be in to be able to keep them apart.”
