Isabella Colman

Ben Pauling will target the Fitzdares Fleur De Lys Chase at Windsor with Handstands after a minor back problem was determined as the cause of his below-par completing effort in last month's Betfair Chase. A Grade One-winning amateur last season and narrowly beaten by Resplendent Grey on his Carlisle comeback, the six-year-old gone back to the greatest level with high hopes on Merseyside, however was well beaten as he passed the post last of four finishers. Pauling was adamant that his charge was not at his finest that day and wishes to see him in a much better light at the Winter Million meeting on January 18. "He ached and we have actually had his back sorted out, so we have actually certainly pinpointed why he hung up the home straight," stated the trainer. "We're still most likely going to drop him back in trip in the Fleur De Lys at Windsor. It's a various kind of track, but he remains in extremely excellent order, he looks a million dollars and I'm really pleased with him. "I was thrilled with the method he went through three-quarters of the race at Haydock and it was uncharacteristic of him to be a weak finisher. I think now we've fixed that we'll be in a better place." Handstands in action at Sandown (John Walton/PA) More right away Pauling has his eyes on King George VI Chase magnificence with stable star The Jukebox Man, including: "He could not be much better at the moment. "You're constantly worried about horses that have actually had injuries, particularly horses with that much ability as you want them to be OK so much, but he came out of Haydock as well as we might ever have actually hoped. "We're beginning to ramp up his work, it's not long now and we're getting to the phase where we don't need any missteps, however if we remain in the kind I expect to be in I think he's going to be extremely competitive."