Pauling sets out King George plan for The Jukebox Man

The Jukebox Man has a return to Kempton for more festive heroics in the King George VI Chase as his main aim in the first half of the new season.

Ben Pauling’s seven-year-old has been out of action since scooping top honours at the Sunbury track on Boxing Day last year and it is therefore no surprise that Pauling has their feature event at the top of his Christmas wish list this time around.

On his way back to peak fitness after the injury which curtailed outings at the major spring Festivals, The Jukebox Man could make his comeback in handicap company at Cheltenham next month, with Ascot the following week another option to tee-up a King George assault.

“It will be either the Paddy Power Gold Cup (November 15) or the Ladbrokes 1965 Chase (November 22) for The Jukebox Man,” said Pauling.

“He’s still unexposed and he did win a Grade One, but he didn’t actually get the opportunity to run at either of the spring festivals and he’s probably still got some mileage in his mark and it could be useful to take advantage of that in a handicap.

“He’s had a long time off, but he looks amazing and is moving well. It is taking a bit of time to get the weight off, and he will be ready when he’s ready, but the main aim will be the King George.”

Owned by Harry Redknapp, The Jukebox Man will be bidding to make up for lost time when he reappears with an unbeaten record to protect over the larger obstacles.

“He’s not ready yet and we’re upping his work all the time but of course we are cautious to not do too much too soon having picked up the injury last year,” said Pauling.

“We’ve been checking the injury along the way and all seems good, so it’s going to be a case of treading carefully but also getting on with him and hopefully he can make Cheltenham or Ascot. If he doesn’t we can always go somewhere else.

“Those two races would be suitable for a first target and wherever he goes, I imagine it would be his only run before we go to the King George.”

He went on: “He’s got a lot of pace for a winner over three miles, hence I wouldn’t mind bringing him back to two and a half and Kempton plays very much to his strengths because he travels and jumps so well and is able to lay up with a strong early pace, which was apparent on Boxing Day.

“Hopefully the faster they go in a King George, the more suitable it would be for us.”

Joining The Jukebox Man amongst Pauling’s ammunition for the new campaign is follow top-level scorer Handstands, who is likely to begin his season at Carlisle in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase on November 2 and is viewed as a Cheltenham Gold Cup possible.

Winner of the Scilly Isles in deep ground at Sandown in February, Handstands is likely to be kept apart from his stablemate, with Pauling suggesting The Jukebox Man’s time to contest the blue riband at the Cheltenham Festival may be delayed a year.

“It’s an exciting season ahead with the likes of The Jukebox Man and Handstands going to war in open company,” said Pauling. “They were very good novices and I hope they can take the step up to the next level.

“I think Handstands will start off in the Colin Parker at Carlisle.

“He’s a different horse to The Jukebox Man and I think he could be outpaced in the early stages of a King George unless it was on very soft ground and I don’t think they will have to meet each other throughout the season.

“He’s probably more of a Gold Cup horse if he’s good enough. I think he is but he’s got to prove that in open company.

“He’s won over two and a half in the Scilly Isles but he stays very well and I think he’s a Gold Cup horse, whereas The Jukebox Man might hold a bit more speed and you might just see him in a Ryanair rather than a Gold Cup this season and he might be one for the Gold Cup in the future.”