Nicky Henderson: Shishkin will almost certainly run at Ascot rather than in the Betfair Chase

Nicky Henderson has said Shishkin “will almost certainly” make his seasonal return in Saturday’s 1965 Chase at Ascot, meaning he will avoid a potential early-season clash with Bravemansgame in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock on the same day.

Speaking at the Coral Gold Cup morning gallops at Newbury on Tuesday, the Lambourn trainer said tackling two and a half miles and better ground at Ascot is “preferable” to heading to Haydock and contesting the Group 1 Betfair Chase on the same day.

He said: "I think he’d almost certainly go to Ascot. I don’t think it’d take a rocket scientist to work out that two miles five furlongs on decent ground at Ascot is preferable than three and a quarter miles at Haydock in heavy.

"He’s all very well and we’re really happy. I think it’s purely a prep race for the King George, but we want to win it. It makes sense to go the short distance on the better ground and it suits everyone.

"He loves it there [Ascot]. He beat Energumene over two miles, he also won over two miles five furlongs last year, so we know he likes the track. He maybe didn’t travel as well as he should have in the Ryanair Chase."

Shishkin began last season with a third in the Tingle Creek, before successfully stepping up in trip in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase to defeat Pic D’Orhy, who is on course to reoppose on Saturday for Paul Nicholls.

Henderson added that Shishkin, who is 5-6 favourite with most firms, could wear cheekpieces in the Grade 2 event.

Shishkin pulls clear of Pic D'Orhy in the Ascot ChaseCredit: Alan Crowhurst

He said: “It’s very possible he may have cheekpieces on. I think everyone has been telling me to do that for a long time. We schooled him in them, but I can’t say it’s changed a horse from being slow to fast – it’ll just help him keep his mind on it.

“He’s in very good form and Nico has been very happy with him. He’s schooled well, done everything right and I’m sure it’s the right race for him – the timing is good too.”

The Joe and Marie Donnelly-owned gelding ended his season with victory in the Aintree Bowl over three miles and a furlong in April and will be targeted at the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Henderson added: “We’ve always said there is only one objective. It’s the King George and then we’ll have a rethink because it could be a completely different ball game after that. We could go to the Ryanair or we could go to Aintree, but we won’t start thinking about that until after the King George.

“It’s an end-to-end gallop at Kempton and you have to stay, which he does because he proved that at Aintree. The misconception is that it’s a flat, easy three miles and you could run a non-stayer, but there’s no let up.”

Paddy Power make Shishkin 4-6 favourite to win at Ascot and spokesman Paul Binfield said: “Shishkin was very good on his first start over three miles at Aintree, but you can understand why Nicky Henderson might not want to take on Bravemansgame over that trip at Haydock on his first start of the campaign, especially as the latter has already had a pipe-opener.”

1965 Chase (1.30 Ascot, Saturday)

Paddy Power: 4-6 Shishkin, 13-8 Pic D’Orhy, 6 Dashel Drasher, 10 Thunder Rock, 14 Minella Drama, 25 Straw Fan Jack

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