Corton target
WITH over 30 runners at next month’s Cheltenham Festival, Nicky Henderson says Shishkin is his best chance at the four-day meeting.
The youngster will attempt to give the trainer a fourth victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the opening event on day one.
“You would like to think Shishkin is one of our best chances,” said Henderson yesterday at his Lambourn stables. “He’s looked very good so far.
“He’s a genuine two-miler and it’s a nice race to win as it gets the ball rolling,” said Henderson. “I think he’s very good.”
With a record seven Champion Hurdle victories under his belt, Henderson will field five in next month’s hurdling crown.
“They are all in good form,” explained the trainer. “Fusil Raffles missed his intended run because the meeting was lost. He will now have an away day.
“Pentland Hills (winner of last year’s Triumph Hurdle) has had his palate cauterised since Haydock. He came to win that race and was not finishing it off. It might help. Call Me Lord ran a bit flat at Sandown the other day. “He’s been freshened up and handles Cheltenham. And the two mares – Verdana Blue must have good ground. She’s in very good form as is Epatante. “She was our leading hope last year and did not perform because she required a flu vaccination. It was her only time at Cheltenham, but I’ve no worries about the track.”
Despite Epatante dominating the betting, Henderson believes they all have realistic chances.
Tony McCoy, successful in three Champion Hurdles, was also an interested observer yesterday.
“There’s only one horse in the Champion Hurdle for me and that’s Epatante,” said McCoy. “And, as for Nicky’s best chance, I suppose it would have to be Champ in the RSA.” Henderson was not getting carried away about Altior making it three successive victories in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. “It’s a very good race this year, but we are in good shape.”
BLACK CORTON tops the weights among the remaining 19 contenders for Kempton’s 888Sport Handicap Chase.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has more than halved his potential challenge to four runners – headed by Black Corton, a Grade One course-and-distance winner as a novice in 2017.
Nicholls also has Adrien Du Pont, one of the ante-post favourites for Saturday’s big handicap and due to receive a stone from 11st 12lb top weight Black Corton if both run. His two other possibles are Romain De Senam and Sametegal.
Harry Fry’s Just A Sting, another course-and-distance winner when he last ran at Christmas, and Jane Williams’ Kempton regular Erick Le Rouge are two others towards the head of the betting.