'I'm thinking, and hoping, he's not unbeatable' - Nicky Henderson on Shishkin's task against Galopin Des Champs in Gold Cup

Nicky Henderson admits it is tricky to find faults in Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs but hopes Shishkin can finally lay down a major marker for the festival showpiece in Saturday's Betfair Denman Chase and establish himself as the premier threat to the reigning champion.

The six-time champion trainer is of the belief his stable star would already have marked himself out as a Gold Cup contender had he not stumbled and unseated in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase, stating the ten-year-old "hadn’t been asked anything at the time".

Since that inglorious incident two out at Kempton, Galopin Des Champs has added his seventh and eighth Grade 1 wins to his CV, when beating Gerri Colombe in the Savills Chase and Fastorslow in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Saturday and Henderson, along with punters, is finding it hard to challenge his claims for back-to-back Gold Cup wins. 

Galopin Des Champs heads the Gold Cup betting at 10-11, whereas Shishkin is the lowest-priced British contender at 9-1 with Coral. 

Asked about the task of beating Galopin Des Champs in March, Henderson, a two-time Gold Cup winner with Long Run in 2011 and Bobs Worth in 2013, said: “It’s a tall order. Galopin Des Champs is very good and a proven Gold Cup winner. He’s a very clinically professional horse – he gets out there and gets the job done.

“He doesn’t strike me as particularly flashy but he’s always there and is tough. He was very good at Leopardstown and you can find little fault in what he has done. 

“He’s the one they all have to beat in the Gold Cup but I’m just thinking, and hoping, that he’s not unbeatable.

“He could be beatable, possibly, and I was hoping we were about to see something quite good from Shishkin in the King George before all of a sudden the lights went out. It was horrific to watch – it felt like the race was grabbed away from us – but he’s in good shape now.”

Shishkin: Britain's shortest-priced Gold Cup contenderCredit: Getty Images

Should Shishkin be successful in the Denman Chase, the focus will turn to the Gold Cup next month when the six-time Grade 1 winner will run over 3m2½f for the first time.

Shishkin started his career over two miles, winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle at consecutive Cheltenham Festivals, and Henderson accepts there is a question mark over his stamina.

He said: “It became obvious he was more of a stayer when he won the Ascot Chase and he was very good at Aintree at the end of last season. We’ve stayed down that route this season and the first half of the season was all about the King George.

“It’s going to be guesswork as to whether he stays the Gold Cup trip. He hasn’t run over that far but I’d be pretty confident he will stay.”

Shishkin will face a maximum of four rivals in the Denman Chase, including 2022 Betfair Chase winner Protektorat and last year’s second Hitman. He is the 8-15 favourite with the race sponsors.

Henderson said: “Nico [de Boinville] rode him on Saturday morning and schooled him this morning. He jumped five fences and there was no point in him jumping any more – he was very sharp and Nico said he feels in terrific form.

“We’re happy with his preparation and it will be nice to get another run under his belt. Kempton was his first run of the season and that particularly made it a pretty strong performance. He might well have won if he had stood up – Nico felt that was the case and Shishkin hadn’t been asked anything at the time. 

"It was a very unfortunate incident, it looked like he hit the inside of his off-fore with his near-fore, and it did create a splint that was very sore for a week afterwards.”

Nicky Henderson: has four entries in the Betfair HurdleCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Henderson is intending to run all four of his entries in the Betfair Hurdle, although riding plans have yet to be firmed up for his team made up of 6-1 second favourite Iberico Lord and 10-1 shot Under Control along with last-time-out winner Luccia and Doddiethegreat, who are 20-1 shots.

He said: “The jockey situation is up in the air. I’ve spoken to Nico and James [Bowen] and asked who they would like to ride, but I’ve yet to hear any definitive answers. We will need two more riders and it’s a bit of a juggling act, while the ground could be an important factor.”

Ocastle Des Mottes heads the Betfair Hurdle betting at 4-1 and Willie Mullins’ new recruit is booked to travel by ferry on Thursday amid an adverse forecast with potential snow.

No snow is forecast at Newbury, where the going is good to soft, soft in places but expected to ease with 25mm of rain forecast on Thursday and Friday.

Betfair Denman Chase, 2.05 Newbury, Saturday Betfair: 8-15 Shishkin, 9-4 Protektorat, 7 Hitman, 16 Does He Know, 25 Sam Brown

Betfair Hurdle, 3.15 Newbury, Saturday
Betfair: 4 Ocastle Des Mottes, 6 Iberico Lord, 13-2 Altobelli, 8 Tellherthename, 10 Lookaway, Luccia, Under Control, 12 bar 

Read more . . .

Betfair Hurdle favourite Ocastle Des Mottes 'not a definite runner' as high winds could scupper Newbury travel plans 

Willie Mullins' 'very nice' French import backed into favouritism for Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday 

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