Ben Jones hoping for rain ahead of Grade One challenge for Handstands

Ben Jones is praying for rain to allow Handstands to line-up in the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase on Saturday week, as he continues to relish his dream season in the saddle aboard Ben Pauling’s aces.

The Welshman has become an integral part in Pauling’s thriving string and is currently well on track to eclipse last year’s career best number of winners.

One of the star performers in the trainer/jockey combination’s budding association is the Radford Family-owned Handstands, who has looked the full package this season since sent novice chasing.

Winner of the Grade Two Esher Novices’ Chase before Christmas, he added a second at that level when claiming the rearranged Towton Novices’ Chase in impressive style at Ffos Las recently, with a first attempt at the highest level over fences now looming back at Sandown on February 1.

“Handstands has come out of Ffos Las brilliantly, when he came back into the paddock after the race you wouldn’t have thought he had a race, he was absolutely bouncing,” said Jones.

“I would have been fairly shocked if it turned out he was tired a week after and thankfully he has come out of the race right as rain, so hopefully we get a drop of rain so we can head to Sandown.

“It would be brilliant to take him back to Sandown and I think he is a horse who deserves to run in a Grade One as well.

“He’s a horse who did well as a novice hurdler, but he went to Cheltenham and something wasn’t quite right that day. He’s come back this season and done everything correctly so far over fences and has picked up a couple of Grade Twos, but it would be nice if he could grab a Grade One.”

As well as Handstands, Jones is in the enviable position of riding a stellar squad being prepared at Pauling’s Naunton Downs base – including the likes of Fiercely Proud and Leader In The Park.

However, the best could be The Jukebox Man, who provided Jones with his first Grade One victory when backing up his taking Newbury chasing bow by landing the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Owned by FA Cup-winning manager Harry Redknapp, The Jukebox Man is poised to head straight to the Cheltenham Festival, giving the 25-year-old plenty to dream about ahead of the spring.

Jones added: “I’ve never been in a position to have this kind of ammunition behind me before and I’m really grateful to Ben and the team for believing in me and putting me on them – luckily so far it is working well.

“I take each day as it comes and you never know in this sport, but The Jukebox Man is very exciting, he’s the best horse I’ve handled.

“I’m really looking forward to the future with him and fingers crossed, it could be exciting at Cheltenham.”