The WellChild charity is £30,000 richer, inspired by Shishkin’s runaway victory in the Arkle Challenge Trophy.
Owners Joe and Marie Donnelly, whose colours are also carried by dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo, donated £10,000 after watching the Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old triumph on the opening day of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.
Ed Chamberlin, ITV Racing lead presenter and WellChild ambassador, said after hearing the news: “It’s a amazingly generous gesture on the part of the Donnellys – really incredible.
“WellChild is a charity close to very my heart – as an ambassador, I’ve seen at first hand the tremendous work it does with sick kids.
“Now I’ll be cheering on Al Boum Photo even more than I was before!”
On Tuesday evening, Willie Mullins tweeted that the owners of Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero Appreciate It were giving the same amount.
"The Masterson family, owners of #AppreciateIt, have made an incredibly generous donation of £10k from their @SkyBet Supreme Novices' Hurdle prize money to @WellChild, @CheltenhamRaces charity partner."
Michael Shinners, spokesman for the sponsors of the Festival opener, said the firm would be"delighted" to also give £10,000, bringing the total to £30,000.
Cheltenham-based WellChild, which works with seriously ill children, was unveiled last month as the the four-day meeting’s charity partner.
