KIND APPROACH
DAN SKELTON has no hesitation taking on Shishkin with his star novice chaser Allmankind if he turns up in the Agetur Kingmaker Chase at Warwick next month.
Since embarking on a chasing career this season Allmankind has shown he is destined for the top by winning his two races without being asked a serious question.
Shishkin, the winner of last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, has also oozed class, winning his two races over fences with ease.
“Allmankind is going to Warwick for the Kingmaker and if Shishkin turns up we will have a match there,” said Skelton. “We’re not ducking that. Then we will go on to Cheltenham. He looks very good. I don’t think there has been any fluke in his performances.”
Both horses have the Arkle Trophy as their objective at the Festival.
Shishkin, trained by Nicky Henderson, is best priced at 5- 6 with Betway and Allmankind is a 10- 1 chance.
Skelton will have another showdown with Henderson when he runs Nube Negra against the Lambourn trainer’s Altior in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
“He will go straight to the Champion Chase,” said Skelton. “He beat Altior and, with Duc Des Genievres finishing third, the Desert Orchid ( run at Kempton) form has substance. There was no fluke.
“Duc Des Genievres won an Arkle and ran in the Ryanair last year where he was beaten 15 lengths by Min.
“He’s given Put The Kettle On 4lb and was beaten just over a length in the Shloer Chase. There are no holes in the form.
“I feel on any day Nube Negra will still beat the horses he beat the other day.”
Skelton is also planning to have another crack at Paisley Park with his outstanding mare Roksana in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.