Handstands and Harry Cobden pictured with winning connections
Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle report: Handstands wins at Huntingdon for Ben Pauling
By Graham Clark
17:13 · THU February 08, 2024
Ben Pauling insisted it was a case of job done after Handstands secured his ticket to next month’s Cheltenham Festival when maintaining his unbeaten record with an impressive success in the M1 Agency Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon.
Arriving on the back of victories at Hereford and Newcastle the Tim Radford-owned five year old put in another stylish performance to extend make it a hat-trick of victories for the season in the Listed feature.
Anchored second last through the early stages of the extended two miles three furlong contest the 9/4 chance jumped the third last alongside his three rivals before laying down his challenge rounding the home turn.
Appearing to be travelling best of them all in the hands of Harry Cobden on the approach to the penultimate flight the Getaway gelding quickly asserted under the Grade One winning rider on the run down to the last.
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Although favourite Jango Baie attempted to stage a late rally Handstands had matters well in control with Cobden pushing his mount out to score by a length and a half to set up a tilt at the Grade One Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival on March 13.
Pauling said: “He is so raw. Looking at him walking around the paddock against a couple of those I thought Oh God. He looks a shell, and he looks a horse for next season. There is no bottom to him. He lobbed around there very relaxed and when Harry wanted him he came alive. He didn’t pick up the bridle for the first two miles. It was really pleasing.
“I don’t think he is short of speed. I was just very pleased. It was job done today and we will see what we do next.
“I don’t think he had to try too hard again. I was genuinely really pleased and I couldn’t have been happier. He was a bit careful at the second, but it was a great ride from Harry. He is an exciting horse for the future and we will look at the Baring Bingham now.
“That shouldn’t have taken too much out of him and he has won on good ground and he has won on heavy ground.”
As for the runner up his trainer Nicky Henderson hinted that he could wait for the Grade One Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree and swerve an outing at the Festival.
Henderson said: “James (Bowen) said it was a bit of a stop start sprint. I’m sure he got the trip alright and he stayed on well. He got messed around a bit, but we were giving the winner 5lbs, but I’m not making excuses and well done them.
“It is always a decent race, and I think it was. I think they are two smart horses. He probably wants all of that trip as he has finished both of his races very strongly. He stayed it out well at Aintree and finished very strong.
“These are young horses and we have to see who is coping with what. That (Aintree over two and a half miles) would be the obvious place for him.”
There was further success for both Pauling and Cobden later on the card after Dunskay (4/1) landed the PHP Architects Open National Hunt Flat Race by three lengths.
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