A Grade One race now awaits Handstands, who emerged victorious in the DragonBet Towton Novices’ Chase at Ffos Las to secure another Grade Two win.
Despite carrying a 5lb penalty for a previous win at Sandown in December, the Ben Pauling-trained horse led from start to finish alongside Cherie d’Am.
Cherie d’Am eventually fell behind after Handstands and Ben Jones took the lead before the fourth-last fence. Although the favorite had a minor mishap at that jump, Lord Of Thunder put in a strong effort to keep up after being affected by another horse’s fall.
However, Handstands maintained control and pulled away after the final obstacle, leading to a two-horse finish in a tough contest.
After the race, Pauling commented: “I was pleased with the performance, especially since we had never raced on such demanding ground before.”
“Some observers felt he was inexperienced, but I believe he was simply learning to adapt to the ground and putting in too much effort, resulting in a few mistakes.”
“Overall, he performed admirably, and Ben was pleased with his jumping after a slight mistake at one of the fences. It was a competitive field, and despite some mishaps, Handstands showed his potential.”
“Turning for home, I was impressed with how well he was doing, speeding up on the bend and securing victory. Even after the final hurdle, he managed to accelerate again.”
“Ben mentioned that Handstands finished the race feeling fresh, indicating that it wasn’t overly strenuous despite the challenging ground conditions. I’m thrilled with the progress he’s making as a promising young novice chaser.”
Handstands may make a quick return to compete at Sandown on February 1 in a Grade One race, the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase.
With a potential clash with stablemate The Jukebox Man at the Cheltenham Festival, Pauling and the owners are considering aiming Handstands for Aintree instead.
“If he remains in good form after this race, we will consider the Scilly Isles event,” Pauling added.
“The Radfords have never been particularly keen on Cheltenham for Handstands this year, preferring races like the Scilly Isles and possibly Aintree. I support their decision.”
“This season has been fantastic for him, and with more races lined up, we are excited about his future.”
“We are fortunate to have such talented horses and supportive owners. I am immensely grateful to them.”
“Although I wouldn’t want to pit him against The Jukebox Man at Cheltenham, I am open to the possibility if the owners decide. It’s a luxury to have such talented horses to race separately.”
