Yahoo Finance Shishkin rated '10 out of 10' after easy victory on chasing debut
Nicky Henderson gave Shishkin, last season’s Supreme Novice Hurdle winner, a 10 out of 10 for his chasing debut after jumping to the front at the second last and coming home 23 lengths clear of Mick Pastor in the Racing TV Beginners Chase at Kempton on Monday.
The six-year-old showed huge amount of scope coming up outside the wings of the first ditch and landing just as far out the far side but, after getting the freshness out of his system for a mile, was clever with his feet when he had to get in close to an obstacle.
“It’s a relief to get that out of the way,” said Henderson. “When he wanted to be flamboyant he had loads of scope and he was a bit showy-offy at times but when he had no stride he quickly worked it out so he can do it both ways. He had a good school round, it’s a good course for that with no traps – some courses you’d be wary about but Kempton’s lovely to start them off at.”
He added: “We haven’t had to do much schooling with him but he’s been very good from day one. We’ll follow the Altior route as this is the same race he started off in and he’ll go to the Wayward Lad at Kempton at Christmas next. He hasn’t had a strenuous day out but Nico (de Boinville) let him stride on up the straight. I was impressed. He’s probably more sensible than Altior (at his fences).”
The reigning champion trainer said that the Champion Hurdler Epatante will be schooled by Aidan Coleman on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s reappearance in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. “I was thinking Goshen would guarantee a truly run race. He’s not been entered though but Not So Sleepy is in it so there should be no hanging around,” he said.
