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"If he progresses and continues on the same form, it will be a nice problem to have at the end of it."
Ben Pauling's faith behind Handstands was somewhat repaid at Sandown on Friday when he put his best foot forward to land the Grade 2 Betfair Esher Novices' Chase, although all roads may not lead to the Cheltenham Festival for his promising young chaser.
The trainer hasn't been shy when it comes to the regard he holds the Tim Radford-owned five-year-old, but after finishing virtually tailed off in the Grade 1 Gallagher Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season, some might have questioned whether he was really cut out to mix it with the best.
Ben Pauling's charge was sent off the 7/4 market leader to make a successful switch to life over fences in the Rising Stars Novices' Chase at Wincanton last month, but after lacking fluency in the jumping department, the writing was on the wall turning for home and a mistake at the third last ultimately saw Ben Jones hit the deck.
"At Wincanton, they just went so quick," explained Pauling. "They were being led a merry dance by Soul Icon and he was just out of his comfort zone early enough,"
"I didn't think he was beat when he fell, but that looked like a tired fall at the time. I still think he's got plenty of heart and that he would have given them a run for their money."
Despite falling on his chasing debut, Pauling and plenty of his backers kept the faith in last year's Sidney Banks winner, who was 5/2 to make it second-time lucky over fences.
You could through a blanket over the field of five as approached three-out, but as Ben Jones began to lift the tempo turning for home, it quickly became apparent that Handstands was travelling much the best. Welcom To Cartries continued to snap away at the leader's heels, but in all truth, those in behind never looked like catching the long-time leader, who produced a splendid leap at the final fence to ultimately seal the deal.
Just as he did at Cheltenham last month, Olly Murphy's 11/8 favourite Resplendent Grey stayed on strongly to grab the runner-up spot, with Saint Davy back in third.
"He's got natural speed, but we'd hoped he'd stay three miles as well," said Pauling. "Coming here on rain-softened ground was going to tell us that. He had not made a mistake at home; he was an ok hurdler but wasn't one you'd say was going to be an outright chaser. Then the second we schooled him over fences, he was electric."
With Pauling also responsible for the care of The Jukebox Man, who made a winning debut over fences at Newbury last week, the Naunton-based handler looks to have an exciting team of novice chasers this season.
Pauling said: "This lad looked like he stayed very well there. The Jukebox Man looked like he had electric speed the other day so we might not need to go as far with The Jukebox Man, but we're not Willie Mullins! We're not going to run them against each other in a hurry!
"We'll see how he comes out of the race and see where we go with each of them, but we're delighted with our team of novice chasers. We've got some nice horses, but we need them to remain, we can't have them fall out the back of the pack so hopefully they're not at the minute."
Looking further ahead towards big-race targets in the spring, Pauling was keen to stress that Cheltenham is not the be-all and end-all for Handstands, who is a general 40/1 chance for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.
"We'll see how he comes out today and we'll have a long chat about where he goes next," said Pauling. "I imagine he'll stick around this trip, but I think he's got enough speed for two and a half still."
"For this lad to go to Cheltenham he would have to be almost a standout in everyone's minds. We are not afraid to sidetrack Cheltenham and look somewhere else. Cheltenham is not the be-all and end-all for the Radford's (owners) and it never has been, well once they got their first winner there, they could put that to beg! If he progresses and continues on the same form, it will be a nice problem to have at the end of it."
