Two promising kids fought out an exhilarating end to the Virgin Guess Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown, with Handstands simply getting the higher of Jango Baie.
The pair had met at Huntingdon over hurdles final time period and there was little to separate them then, however Jango Baie was barely higher off on the weights this time.
Handstands (100-30) had received two Grade Twos already over fences, proving he stayed three miles in early December earlier than successful the rearranged Towton at Ffos Las.
Jango Baie had made an enormous impression when prevailing on his chasing debut, although, and was despatched off the 10-11 favorite for Nicky Henderson, to proceed the coach’s run of big-race wins.
However he couldn’t get by the decided Handstands, who made nearly each yard of the operating.
Jango Baie briefly appeared overwhelmed earlier than the Pond Fence, just for him to shortly come again on the bridle and seem the possible winner.
Nevertheless, Handstands put that stamina to good use and when Ben Jones requested him for a giant leap on the final, he delivered and that enabled him to carry on by a brief head.
For the successful coach Ben Pauling, it proved an actual fillip coming in the identical week that he was pressured to rule secure star The Jukebox Man out for the season.
There was to be no fairytale win for Kalif Du Berlais, operating within the colors of the late John Hales, together with his stamina fading within the straight.
