Shishkin looks set to take-off in the Ryanair Chase at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, with his trainer Nicky Henderson revealing this will be his target race at the Festival – however, he will need to run well in Saturday’s Ascot Chase first.
Ryanair Chase The Cheltenham Festival Target For Shishkin
Shishkin, who flopped as favourite for last year’s Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, is certainly a horse on a recovery mission at the moment. Since that Festival run he’s finished down the field (3rd) in the Tingle Creek Chase at the start of December – but could he return to form at the Prestbury Park by stepping up in trip and going for the Ryanair Chase?
The 9 year-old’s trainer Nicky Henderson has come out and said that the Ryanair Chase on Thursday 16th March will be Shishkin’s preferred target at the Cheltenham Festival and NOT the Champion Chase. Plus, with the two-time winner of the Ryanair Chase – Allaho – now going to miss the contest through injury, this has opened things up with many connections now feeling they’ve got a much better chance of landing this Grade One.
Nicky Henderson told the Racing Post – “I do believe in him, He’s never been a brilliant work horse, but Nico [de Boinville] was very happy with him on Saturday. I do think his wind could have been bothering him at Sandown and I think we’ll put a tongue-tie on him as well. I agree he’s had reasons for not running so well, but I’d not entered him for the Champion Chase and then we discovered his palate needed seeing too. Maybe that was the whole thing and maybe I am wrong.
“He goes to Ascot and then, ask Matt Chapman! He tells me I’m a plonker for not entering him in the Champion Chase. I suppose I’ll have nothing for the Champion Chase. Maybe Matt is right and I’ve made a right bollocks of it by not entering.”
DID YOU KNOW? Shishkin is named after Ivanovick Shishkin – a Russian landscape painter
Shishkin Will Need To Impress In Saturday’s Ascot Chase First
However, before a possible tilt in the Ryanair Chase, Shishkin has an entry in Saturday’s Ascot Chase, where he’s @ 15/8 with BetUK to get back to winning ways. At this stage he could also take on two other possible Ryanair Chase runners in Fakir D’oudairies, who won this race 12 months ago, and the Paul Nicholls-trained Pic D’Orhy.
A win at Ascot for Shishkin, over this longer trip of 2m5f, will surely see his Cheltenham odds for the Ryanair Chase @ 7/2 with BetUK vanish without trace.
The Step Up in Trip Expected To Suit Shishkin
The 2021 Arkle Chase winner has done much of his running in and around 2 miles, with the furthest he’s been under rules being 2m2f, but many racing fans feel that his running style will be much better suited to a longer trip as he gets older.
Shishkin is a horse that often hits a ‘flat-spot’ in his race, but finishes well, so the longer trip (2m5f) that the Ryanair Chase will give him certainly looks well worth a crack – we’ll find out on Saturday at Ascot!
RELATED: 2023 Cheltenham Festival Race Times, Schedule & Running Order
- Shishkin Career in Numbers
- Runs: 14
- Wins: 11
- Chase Runs/Wins: 9 (7 wins)
- Total Career Earnings: £410,246
Ryanair Chase Latest Betting with BetUK
With the news that the two-time Ryanair Chase winner Allaho will miss the race, this has given the betting a much more open feel.
- Blue Lord @ 3/1
- Fakir D’oudairies @ 3/1
- Shishkin @ 7/2
- Conflated @ 5/1
- Fury Road @ 5/1
- Haut En Couleurs @ 5/1
- Envoi Allen @ 8/1
Note: Odds are subject to change and others on request
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