Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Shishkin can show class
SHISHKIN can get a confidence booster in the bag ahead of his Cheltenham Gold Cup date by winning the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury this afternoon.
This season has not gone to plan for Nicky Henderson’s charge, with Shishkin refusing to jump off on his return at Ascot in November before a couple of alternate options were scuppered by the weather.
That meant he headed to the King George without a run and, while Henderson expressed his concern about the situation, Shishkin looked a likely winner until a stumble after jumping the penultimate fence saw Nico de Boinville dislodged.
Very testing ground would be the only question mark, but Shishkin’s sheer class can carry him through.
Elsewhere on the card, Boothill is another on the redemption trail in the Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase.
Winner of two handicaps at Ascot at the start of the season, he fell when still travelling well with five fences left to jump in the Desert Orchid Chase at Christmas.
Obviously it is hard to say how he would have fared had he not fallen, but he looked poised to challenge and might still have a bit to give for trainer Harry Fry.
The Betfair Hurdle is the betting highlight of the day and Aurigny Mill could be the solution to what is always a tricky puzzle.
Winner of three of his seven hurdles runs, he is on a roll for Victor Dartnall having won on heavy ground at Wincanton in early December before following up on quicker conditions at Kempton’s Christmas meeting.
A seven-and-a-half-length winner on the second occasion, Aurigny Mill has been raised 9lb ahead of this but given his aptitude for differing ground and his progressive profile, he looks one for the frame at least.
One Night Stand roared back to form at Lingfield at the backend of last month and can kick on again at Wolverhampton. While Scott Dixon’s charge seemingly preserves his very best for Lingfield, One Night Stand has won at Dunstall Park previously and looks ahead of the curve.