Shishkin’s delayed return to action proved to be well worth the wait here on Monday as last season’s Arkle Trophy winner maintained his unbeaten record in completed races over jumps with a 10-length defeat of Greaneteen – a Grade One winner himself this month – in the Grade Two Desert Orchid Chase.
Shishkin was getting some weight from his two main rivals in a four‑strong field and needed to be nudged along for a second or two by Nico de Boinville, his jockey, on the turn for home. Once he clicked up a gear, however, Shishkin powered away from his opponents in just a few strides and was soon in complete control.
Bookmakers took the chance to clip Shishkin’s odds for the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March and Nicky Henderson’s seven‑year‑old is now odds-on for the two-mile chasing championship with several firms, with Coral one of the few still odds‑against at 5-4. Energumene, Ireland’s big hope for what promises to be a memorable head-to-head in the spring, is top-priced at 5-2 and it is 11-1 bar the two.
“I think there’s a bit of relief but it’s more than that, as I am really genuinely thrilled with him,” Henderson said. “When I looked at the ground yesterday I thought: ‘Do we not go and wait for the Clarence House [in January]?’ So I was nervous.
“He was in a bad place for three weeks, which is why he didn’t run in the Tingle Creek and his tracheal wash backed that up. He didn’t run in the Tingle Creek because he was all wrong and he was just as flat as a pancake and then 10 days after that his tracheal wash was horrible.
“The way he crossed [the] fences is extraordinary, sometimes you don’t even think he’s left the ground as he’s just out the other side and gone.”
Henderson would prefer to get another run into Shishkin before his run at the Festival, though he feels he now has a choice between two imperfect options. “He’s had a good blow and I’d like to have another run before Cheltenham,” he said. “The trouble is you’ve got the Clarence House which comes quickly after this, while the Game Spirit [at Newbury in February] is rather close to the Festival and you haven’t got a lot in between. But we’ll find something for him.”
The feature event of the day at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival was a Grade One chase over two miles and a furlong, but its value as a pointer for the Champion Chase was diminished when Chacun Pour Soi, the likely favourite, was scratched a few hours before the race because of a hamstring problem.
In his absence, Envoi Allen registered a first Grade One success for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore following his switch from Gordon Elliott’s stable in early March. The seven-year-old had to dig deep to see off the persistent challenge of Battleoverdoyen but crossed the line nearly eight lengths in front.
“We had a bit of a scare turning in, but he put his head down and galloped to the line,” Blackmore said. “I think Henry was right to step him back [in trip], obviously with Chacun being out it changed the dynamic of the race [but] he felt good today.”
Leicester 11.55 Annies Prayer 12.28 Ben Buie 1.03 Jet Plane 1.38 Mahler's Promise 2.13 Nurse Susan 2.45 Red Happy 3.20 Lebowski
Catterick Bridge 12.10 Nocte Volatus 12.45 Where's Hector 1.25 Representing Bob (nap) 2.00 Findthetime (nb) 2.30 Obey The Rules 3.02 Auditoria
Newcastle 3.15 Polyphonic 3.50 Dajarus 4.20 Quick Change 4.50 Al Qareem 5.20 Plastic Paddy 5.50 White Willow 6.20 Shalaa Asker 6.50 Redzone
At Chepstow, where the Welsh Grand National took place in front of empty stands for the second year running, it was left to Sam Thomas to provide the post-race emotion after Iwilldoit stayed on strongly to give the trainer the biggest win of his career.
“I can’t believe how emotional I am,” Thomas said. “I’m a bit overwhelmed by the whole experience, if I’m honest. It is tremendous to keep it in Wales. I am a proud Welshman and it hasn’t really sunk in.
“It is bizarre being stood here in an empty stand with no crowd. It just doesn’t feel right, really. I have enjoyed every minute of that race, but my family should be here, the rest of the owners should be here, and it is a very sad day for racing. Forty minutes away in Bristol there is a full stadium of people watching rugby. It is crazy.” Native River, successful in the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup and winner of the Welsh National five years ago, was retired after being pulled up in the race on Mondayyesterday.
