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First of all, I wouldn’t describe his run as a complete flop. Nico just looked after him and did what was best for the horse.
But why would you prefer a 2 mile race on rather fast ground with almost no opposition in it instead of going to Punchestown for a rematch with Energumene (and most likely softer ground)? I thought Ireland was on the agenda shortly after the Supreme with Constitution Hill going for a battle with Honeysuckle.
I’m not quite sure Shishkin is speedy enough for a very fast run 2 mile chase. That’s why I thought they might be considering the King George for him next season. But Nicky proves me wrong and maybe I am completely wrong, though Shishkin is a 2m4f-3m horse in my opinion.
I am still not entirely convinced that his performance (or lack thereof) was simply due to the state of the ground, I had noticed as they were walking out to line up on Wednesday that his ears were flat back so it could have just been a very rare off day instead – also the QMCC was run in a time 14.27sec slower than standard whereas the Clarence House was run 16.17sec.
Yes I know the Ascot race is a 1F further but the time indicated the ground was very deep and of his 12 starts under rules prior to Cheltenham, 8 have been run on ground officially described as soft (where times have been similarly slower than standard) with another one on heavy ground (16.22 sec slower than standard) so it is not like he hasn’t encountered deep ground and excelled on it.
I see no reason to step him up in trip at this time off the back of just one very poor showing and on that basis I am not surprised that the Sandown race has been muted as his next port of call – outside of the year Sprinter went over, Punchestown for his 2m chasers has never been on the agenda especially since the Sandown race more often than not tends to be more of a penalty kick G1 race to pick up without having to worry about travelling over seas etc
No chance of Energermene coming over as he is likely to face off against Chacun in the Punchestown Champion Chase in their own back yard – if Chacun had a better record outside of Ireland you maybe could have made a case for him coming to Sandown to avoid taking on his stablemate but I can’t see that happening as the only time he will leave Ireland again I feel is for the Festival next season.
I’m with LD , there,s more to it than the ground , whether we,ll find out though , if it was the ground then surely we,ll see him at Aintree or Punchestown …..I’m not convinced we will
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
The weather was horrendous. I thought to myself sod this for a game of soldiers and left after the QMCC as I was soaked to the bone. Never seen rain like it. Shishkin on his way to the start going past me looked like he wanted to turn around and go home. I wonder if the last race having to run so fast to get past Energumene took more out of him mentally. That race he was nudged along early to keep tabs and responded every call. This race he never went from the off.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Nathan, as already mentioned in my OP, I wouldn’t be too worried that Nico pulled him up. But I was just wondering what other options does Nicky have at a G1 3m chase. Forget Chantry House or Champ and Mister Fisher simply lacks the class of a G1 horse. Basically, apart from Shishkin he has nothing, absolutely nothing……
And if CH should go novice chasing next season, the Shishkin 2m era would be over within two years. Though this era never really got started.
Shishkin has been diagnosed with a rare bone condition. He will not run again this season but should be back next term:
https://www.racingtv.com/news/rare-bone-condition-rules-shishkin-out-of-sandown-finale
I’m not a vet, Ginge. But it sounds more like a long-term problem to me. I mean one that might occur again and maybe without any previous signs. Hope to be wrong though and rather have him running for 2-3 more seasons.
Hmmm, so he is “laying down bone in four areas”. My question would be if it has happened now, does this make it any more likely to happen again?
As Ginger says, knowing the medical name for the condition, assuming one exists, would be helpful.
“When is Constitution Hill getting ruled out of Punchestown?”
1/1 between 3-5 days of the race
7/4 before 5 days of the race
15/8 within 3 days of the raceGaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
I still don’t know why Henderson was so quick to blame the ground ….. He should have said we,ll check and go from there …question mark over him now
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
“Anyone heard what this bone condition is called?”
1/1 Pedal Osteitis
7/4 Pyramidal Disease
15/8 Silica-associated Osteoporosis
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