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25 Jan 26
17:56
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Date Joined:
03 Feb 11
I am one for taking long priced punts looking for real value that you wont get on the day of the race and some come off and some don't, with all that said I backed Handstands each way for the Ryanair at 66-1 and just feel that there could be a lot of value in this but with an element of risk, the trainer has always held this horse in the highest regard and it recently finished third over 2m6f behind Protektorat beaten 6L giving 8lbs, this also being his first run after a wind operation and his first run for two months, previously thought of as a gold cup horse he wont be going for that with his rating of 154. The Ryanair though could be a lot different, with a fast paced 2m4f around Cheltenham suiting better than the 2m6f recently and then having his second run after the wind operation he could be a different proposition and finally live upto the trainers high regard of him, risky, but the 66-1 was so tempting, finally if you look carefully at the possible runners for the Ryanair that race may cut up significantly
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I backed him for the Brown Advisory last year. The trainer was later quoted as saying he regretted not running him. I think he is 66/1 because he hasn't looked the same horse this year. So much depends on whether Fact To File can bounce back. Last year's version should win again.
He has had a wind op prior to his latest run and they're always better second time.
Not good news for you:-
https://www.attheraces.com/news/2026/January/26/pauling-excited-to-see-handstands-on-national-service
https://www.attheraces.com/news/2026/January/26/pauling-excited-to-see-handstands-on-national-service
Well reading that link it could be a money done job, not because he intends going for the national but that at the festival he is going to stick to the 3m handicap on the first day, sometimes this kind of thing happens, trainer was convinced he was a gold cup horse but he had very little chance off 154, perhaps he is just not quick enough to drop down for the Ryanair, looks like he will be up the top of the weights in the ultima instead, mind you he might have to take Myretown on and that thing has a good 10lb in hand of its mark, if only it could jump.
At one stage following comments in the press my selection for the Ryanair " Handstands " looked liked it was doomed and not going to run, however this was Ben Pauling in the Racing Post recently, see below,
Handstands
Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, 80-1
Ryanair Chase, 50-1
Ultima Handicap Chase, 16-1
He's come out of Windsor like a bull. I've never seen him like this. I thought he was in great form heading into the Betfair Chase, but he didn't perform as well as he could have because of his wind, plus the girl who rides him wasn't as happy before the race as I was. We did his wind after that and we went into the Fleur de Lys knowing he wasn't bang on. He's come out of that run so much better and he's going to have entries in the Ryanair, the Gold Cup and the Ultima. The obvious one is the Ultima, and I see him as a Grand National horse because he's so well handicapped, but I wonder if there's something to him being a deadly two-and-a-half-miler. I think the Ryanair is a really interesting race and it will be very open if Fact To File goes to the Gold Cup. It could be tempting
Handstands
Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, 80-1
Ryanair Chase, 50-1
Ultima Handicap Chase, 16-1
He's come out of Windsor like a bull. I've never seen him like this. I thought he was in great form heading into the Betfair Chase, but he didn't perform as well as he could have because of his wind, plus the girl who rides him wasn't as happy before the race as I was. We did his wind after that and we went into the Fleur de Lys knowing he wasn't bang on. He's come out of that run so much better and he's going to have entries in the Ryanair, the Gold Cup and the Ultima. The obvious one is the Ultima, and I see him as a Grand National horse because he's so well handicapped, but I wonder if there's something to him being a deadly two-and-a-half-miler. I think the Ryanair is a really interesting race and it will be very open if Fact To File goes to the Gold Cup. It could be tempting
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