Two promising children fought out an exhilarating end to the Virgin Guess Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown, with Handstands simply getting the higher of Jango Baie.
The pair had met at Huntingdon over hurdles final time period and there was little to separate them then, however Jango Baie was barely higher off on the weights this time.
Handstands (100-30) had received two Grade Twos already over fences, proving he stayed three miles in early December earlier than profitable the rearranged Towton at Ffos Las.
Jango Baie had made an enormous impression when prevailing on his chasing debut, although, and was despatched off the 10-11 favorite for Nicky Henderson, to proceed the coach’s run of big-race wins.
However he couldn’t get by the decided Handstands, who made virtually each yard of the operating.
Jango Baie briefly appeared overwhelmed earlier than the Pond Fence, just for him to rapidly come again on the bridle and seem the doubtless winner.
Nevertheless, Handstands put that stamina to good use and when Ben Jones requested him for an enormous leap on the final, he delivered and that enabled him to carry on by a brief head.
For the profitable coach Ben Pauling, it proved an actual fillip coming in the identical week that he was compelled to rule steady star The Jukebox Man out for the season.
There was to be no fairytale win for Kalif Du Berlais, operating within the colors of the late John Hales, together with his stamina fading within the straight.
