Time to stick with Shishkin at Ascot

Shishkin can justify Nicky Henderson’s decision to switch up in trip by landing the Betfair Ascot Chase at the Berkshire track tomorrow.

HendersonoptednottoenterhisstarchaserintheChampion Chase at Cheltenham, instead plumping for Ryanair and Gold Cup engagements – and victory here would surely see his odds for the Ryanair come crashing. A year is a long time in racing and at this point in 2022 it would have been unimaginable that Shishkin would be moving up to two miles and five furlongs as well as engaging in something of a retrieval mission.

However, after his sevenrace unbeaten streak ended when pulled up at last year’s Festival, with a rare bone condition subsequently diagnosed, Shishkin could finish only a distant third to Edwardstone in the Tingle Creek.

A flipped palate scuppered a planned run at Kempton last month, but Henderson thinks Shishkin is back on form now and the distance would certainly appear to be well within his remit, judged both on his racing style and the fact he triumphedoverthreemilesinthe point to point field.

Fakir D’oudairies and Pic D’Orhywillprovideasterntest, but if Shishkin is the champion he previously appeared, he should be good enough.

Henderson should also be on the mark with Bold EndeavourintheBateauxLondon ReynoldstownNovices’Chase.

This does not appear to be the strongest renewal of this Grade Two and Bold Endeavourhas10lbormoreinhandon the official ratings.

Cap Du Nord showed signs of a renaissance last time and canbuildonthatintheLKBennett Swinley Handicap Chase.

He was a game winner of the Coral Trophy in 2022 but struggled off his revised mark and is now back on the same perch as when he triumphed at Kempton.

NotachancecansnapatwoyearbarrenspellintheBetfred GrandNationalTrialHandicap Chase at Haydock.

Winner of the 2021 Classic Chase at Warwick, he finished a fair third behind Iwilldoit in that race on his most recent start and is still 7lb lower than his last winning mark.

ErneRiverreturnstoGrade Two company in the Betfred Rendlesham Hurdle after an admirable handicap effort at Doncaster.

After proving no match for HitmanoverfenceshereinNovember,NickKentpitchedhim

intoaclassthreeeventonTown Moor and he only went down by three-quarters of a length, conceding 18lb to the winner.

Clearly this represents a different kind of test, but Erne River can rise to the occasion,

Collectors Item can confirm Kempton form with Makin’yourmindup in the Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’

Hurdle. The selection was getting 4lb that day and came home two lengths clear, with possibly a bit more in hand.