SHOW OF APPROVAL
Hendo: Big two rematch may be ‘even more exciting’
TRAINER Nicky Henderson pledged “it’s going to be even more exciting next time” when Shishkin and Energumene have their rematch at Cheltenham in March.
In the race of the season so far, Henderson’s Shishkin gained a dramatic one-length triumph over his Willie-Mullinstrained rival in the Grade 1 SBK Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday. And he promised more thrills when the star twomilers lock horns for a second time in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
“It will be a serious rematch and they will want it as much as we do,” Henderson, whose eight-year-old is a best-priced 4-6 favourite to rack up a third Festival triumph in the Wednesday feature, insisted yesterday.
“If one of them had won by 10 lengths, the Champion Chase might have become a rather dampened down race.
But it hasn’t signed, sealed and delivered the Champion Chase. When it’s as close as that, there’s nothing in it.
“It was built up and it lived up to its billing. It was an epic and it was sad there had to be a loser – and it’s going to be even more exciting next time.”
The victory elevated Shishkin to the highest-rated horse in training, according to Timeform.
The son of Sholokhov is now rated 181p – 1lb higher than Henderson’s two-time Champion Chase hero Altior.
Connections of third home, First Flow, felt the horse put up a better performance in a 19-length defeat than he did when winning the Clarence House 12 months ago.
“It was a phenomenal race and David Bass (jockey) said he ran a better race yesterday than he did last year, which gives you some idea how good it all was,” said First Flow’s ttrainer Kim Bailey.