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Ben Pauling favouring Aintree over Cheltenham for Scilly Isles winner Handstands - and identifies long-term Grade 1 target

Handstands (Ben Jones, left) jumps the last fence and beats Jango Baie in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown
Handstands (Ben Jones, left) jumps the last fence and beats Jango Baie in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at SandownCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ben Pauling is already sizing up next season's King George VI Chase at Kempton for Grade 1-winning novice chaser Handstands, who is set to skip the Cheltenham Festival in favour of running at Aintree in April.

Handstands made his breakthrough at the highest level when edging out Jango Baie in Saturday's Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown, and Pauling is sweet on the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices' Chase over 3m1f at Aintree next, with races like the King George on the table later in the year.

"He's bounced out of Saturday – you wouldn't know he's had a race – and I think we'll go straight to Aintree from here," said Pauling. "He's effective over two and a half miles, but I think he'll be better over three.

"He's got plenty of speed and stamina, so it's an exciting time ahead, and I suspect we'll look to go three miles on better ground at Aintree."

The Jukebox Man (Ben Jones) jumps the last fence and wins the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton
The Jukebox Man: could be aimed at next season's King George VI ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Handstands' victory at Sandown came in the same week his Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase-winning stablemate The Jukebox Man was ruled out for the remainder of the season through injury, but he will be back next season and Pauling is not ruling out targeting the King George with both horses.

"Next season's King George looks a pretty obvious route," said Pauling of Handstands. "We'd have one run before we got there. It would be a similar feel to The Jukebox Man's season I think.

"The King George could be the first race in which, if they're both healthy and well, they could meet, but we'll keep them apart until then. If we're lucky enough to have two in that sphere, we'll be happy."

Despite The Jukebox Man being scratched from the Cheltenham Festival in March, there seems to be little chance Handstands will be drafted in as a replacement for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase on March 12.

"I don't think we'll consider Cheltenham, we didn't enter him for a reason," said Pauling. "We had a plan and that was to do what we've done, and it's worked. To reshuffle the pack just because The Jukebox Man has fallen by the wayside would probably be a mistake."


King George VI Chase (Kempton, December 26)
William Hill: 7 Gaelic Warrior, 8 Il Est Francais, Fact To File, 10 Banbridge, 16 Ballyburn, The Jukebox Man, El Fabiolo, Jonbon, Djelo, 20 bar.


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Huge blow for Ben Pauling and Harry Redknapp as leading Cheltenham Festival contender The Jukebox Man is ruled out 

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Deputy news editor

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