Nicky Henderson has announced that the Grade One Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Shishkin will start his life over fences at Kempton next Monday and having never jumped a fence, the six year old is currently the Arkle favourite for the Cheltenham festival.
The six year old since falling on his hurdles debut has shown bundles of ability and plenty of gears when it comes to finishing his races which have seen him land three contests in a row at Newbury, Huntingdon and of course Prestbury Park.
His win in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle has since been franked with the narrow second Abacadbras for Gordon Elliott has since gone on to land the Grade One Morgiana Hurdle.
WHAT A WAY TO KICK OFF #CHELTENHAMFESTIVAL 2020...
— The Winners Enclosure (@TWEnclosure) March 10, 2020
The biggest drifter in the race SHISHKIN outstays the best backed horse in the race ABACADABRAS to make it three out of four over hurdles 👏🏼
WHAT A RACE! 😍
🎬 @RacingTV pic.twitter.com/tgF1U81bNd
(Credit ATR) Speaking at the Ladbrokes Winter Carnival Gallops Morning at Newbury on Tuesday, Henderson said: “I’m thinking of running Shishkin at Kempton on Monday – it is the race we used for Altior.
“He has a piece of work to do tomorrow morning, and then a school. The race is just falling at the right time, and Kempton is a good course to start them off at.
“He is a great, big horse and a great jumper, touch wood.“If he was a serious Champion Hurdle horse you would go there, but I think he is better off down the two-mile chase route.”
Shishkin is currently one of seven entries in the race with his main challenger in the two-mile-two-furlong Beginners Chase looking to be he Paul Nicholls-trained Pic D’Orhy.
The racing world will be watching to see whether the star can transform his hurdles form over to the bigger obstacles.