Shishkin times his jumps to land Doncaster victory

SHISHKIN delivered another supreme display in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Lightning Novices’ Chase at Doncaster.

With Cheddleton a late absentee, only four went to post for the Grade

Two and Nico de Boinville settled the 1-7 favourite in third.

Eldorado Allen and Est Illic set a decent tempo in the testing ground before Est Illic found it too much with half a mile to run.

De Boinville just had to niggle on the Nicky Henderson-trained market leader, but he joined Eldorado Allen at the fourth last and the race was soon over.

Shishkin’s jumping in the straight was perfect and he prevailed by eight and a half lengths (above).

Miranda enjoyed returning to a galloping track to take the Grade Two honours in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle.

Only fourth on a sharper track at Musselburgh, the Paul Nicholls-trained sixyear-old was much more at home on Town Moor’s wide-open spaces. The early pace was set by Sopat until Nico De Boinville made his move at the top of the straight on Floressa.

However, Miranda

(3-1) was soon in his slipstream and she stuck to her task well after the final flight to score by four and a quarter lengths from Floressa.

The pair drew 18 lengths clear of Marie’s Rock in third place. Miranda could run in the Betway Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on February 20.

‘If the ground is soft, we might run her in the Kingwell Hurdle,’ said Nicholls’ assistant Harry Derham.