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If shiskin wasn’t trained by nicky henderson I honestly think they’d be joint favs
I love shiskin but this energumene looks a monster and jumps just as well
Shiskins form line with Abacadabras looks much weaker now too
I’m on the shiskin/envoi double as my biggest winner of the festival and im very worried
My hope is that allmankind and energumene go off too fast
Abra ran a nice race today without being knocked around too much , he,ll enjoy the better ground at chelt , I’m still confident shiskin will win , Mullins horse hasn’t ran at cheltenham yet and there’s also the question of how he,ll handle better ground
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
Given the iffy visual impression Shishkin has made mid-race in his last two races, I was slightly surprised by Simon Rowlands’ latest article about his performances. It seems his times (in particular those final splits) do come out very well.
Still, in Energumene there is at least a horse with a level of ability and racing style good enough to exploit Shishkin’s temperament and sluggish early/mid race jumping. People forget that the Arkle is a fairly sharp test – it pays to be prominent and jumping errors cost double. If Shishkin is not on Energumene’s quarters on the home turn, he’ll be struggling to get back.
I do think talk of a “burn-up” with Allmankind and Energumene is a little silly. How many races loaded with potential pace actually turn out to be pace meltdowns? Especially nowadays in the age of sectional analysis, top level jockeys aren’t that daft and it rarely happens. You’d be surprised if Skelton and Townend, given a full month from now to plan their races, fall into the obvious trap.
The ground is another slight question for Energumene but again I wouldn’t be overly worried. His PTP handler Sophie Lacey was happy to run him on good ground at Larkhill and Timeform gave the ground for his Thurles win as good-to-soft. There aren’t that many Denham Red progeny who have run in the UK and Ireland but Virgilio, Ouzbeck and Sam Red (his 2nd, 3rd and 4th highest by RPRs) were best on a sound surface. And the main man himself Un De Sceaux (despite being a beast in the mud) won an Arkle and a Ryanair on good ground. I wouldn’t be too scared.
I’ve had a shocker personally and haven’t staked anything on the race so far. I liked Energumene but missed the 10/1 after Naas then the 6/1 before Leopardstown and can live without the 5/2 now. I was thinking my main play would be to lay Shishkin quite large at 1/2 or shorter on the day, but wonder if he’ll get that short now. He was a big drifter in the Supreme last year (10.48 Betfair SP from less than half that price in the morning) and suspect he’ll be somewhat weak on the day of race again.
I don’t see him being weak on the day at all , if the Irish have a good Tues then they may have some euro,s to throw about but unlike last shiskin has no questions to answer , I could see shiskin coming off the bridle first like altior but I think he,ll blow everything away up the hill
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
It’s an interesting question – what was going on with his Supreme Novices’ SP? He was priced between 3/1 and 4/1 with the bookies overnight and drifted wildly before going off with a BSP of 10.48.
Nicky Henderson’s stable, as we all know from recent scandals, is pretty well sussed out by the market. You do start sweating if you’re on a big Henderson drifter. Obviously he was a fortunate winner on the day having shaped third or fourth best – but why the drift? Was he working poorly? Had he had a setback or shown some of that trademark temperament at home? Did they just feel he was too short in what seemed like a strong renewal?
Abacadabras (arguably the moral winner) shortened from an overnight bookies price between 5/1 and 13/2 to a BSP of 3.91, so perhaps the weight of support for him was the factor rather than any specific neg for Shishkin.
I don’t know and guess we never will know. I just find markets endlessly fascinating. The know-alls say big races are ‘stale’ after being up for so long ante-post but they can be as wild as a Class 6 sometimes.
Fortunate winner?
Hed have been an incredibly unlucky loser and Abacadabras a very fortunate winner given the run through the two horses had
I was impressed enough with Energumene yesterday to think he has a better chance of being runner up in this than he had before he ran.
I think most would agree Shishkin was a fortunate Supreme winner, FinalFurlong – fairly creative interpretation to say he was the best horse on the day. Three major rivals wiped out three out, Abacadabras left in front much further out than he needed to be, seems fairly basic and clearcut.
Can totally take onboard if someone wants to lay Shishkin but atleast get the facts of your arguments correct.
Shipahollabolla I really do think you’re talking complete nonsense. Shishkin doesn’t have this ‘temperament’ you keep rattling on about. He races behind the bridle yes but some of the all time greats have had that trait. Altior being one of the most recent.
And for you to say abracadabras was the moral winner of the supreme is hilarious. You’re certainly in the minority there. Shishkin made a bad mistake down the back and Shishkin was hampered badly 2 out almost grinding him to a halt. To then get back up after that was nothing short of amazing.
The key to trolling shipithollabolla is to not be so obvious
Next you’ll be claiming elegant escape will win the gold cup
Do you watch races back Ship?
Also Jaso, you rant at Ship but call Energumene a nice pacemaker…. that’s as disrespectful.
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!Sorry I assumed my comment on energumene being a pace maker would be taken as tongue in cheek, thought that was obvious as a joke. Whereas as shipholla seems to be deadly serious. If he’s joking too then fair enough.
That’s the distinction I make of mine and his comments.
So take it easy jacky boy
As I said earlier in this thread I’m on both Energumene and Shiskin at decent prices but have also got Shishkin in some tasty multiples with Envoi Allen & Chacun. I was quite pleased with the prices of these but after seeing Energumene this weekend I am now starting to worry!
Energumene was very very impressive and could see him just bowling along out front and not getting pegged back. Both horses have been superb this season and throw in Allmankind this is going to be a very good Arkle renewal if they all turn up.
Again in my last post I mentioned that playing Shishkin in running could be a good angle for anyone wanting to back him but not keen at current prices. As has been said by a few people he seems to have the same trait as Altior where he hits a flat spot and if Energumene is in front of Shishkin by 4/5L when this happens I can see Shishkin going out to 4-5/1.
These two remind me of the Douvan Vs Altior race we never got to see! Fingers crossed we will see these two lock horns in a months time
Energumene seems much more of an un de sceaux than a douvan
The sort of horse I love to watch
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