Shishkin shows heart of a champion to win Supreme against all odds

Anyone can win the easy ones. It's the times when everything is against you and you still manage to find a way to come out on top that shows you have the real stuff of a champion.

We knew that Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville had it, they have shown it countless times in this most testing of arenas. Now we know that Shishkin has it too.

Things could hardly have conspired more against the inexperienced hurdler, fresh from Listed success at Huntingdon and charged with putting a smile on the face of his trainer and jockey in the Grade 1 festival opener, just a few hours after they had been forced to withdraw the lame Altior from his bid for a third Champion Chase.

Not only had overnight rain made the ground more testing than ideal, he made a mistake at the third flight and lost his place at the top of the hill.

He was also as big as 99-1 in running after coming mighty close to being brought down in the melee two out, where Elixir d'Ainay and Captain Guinness crashed out.

Yet Henderson and De Boinville are rarely men to lay long odds against at Cheltenham.

Shishkin had clocked a closing sectional time at Newbury in January that had the analysts drooling with excitement, and his turn of foot ensured that a handful of online punters ended with burnt fingers.

He quickened in tremendous style to catch Abacadabras – who himself touched 1-7 in running – 100 yards from home and gamely held his renewed challenge by a head. The pair finished 11 lengths clear of the Henderson-trained Chantry House in third.

"I thought that was a super run all things considered," De Boinville said. "That showed a bit of superstar quality.

"Everything conspired against him today but he managed to find a way and that's what champions tend to do. They get themselves out of a hole and they get the jockey looking a bit better than they probably should do."

De Boinville, riding his 11th festival winner, admitted things had been tough in a race he won with Altior for Henderson in 2016.

The massive Cheltenham crowd looks on as Shishkin and Abacadabras fight out the finish in the SupremeCredit: Edward Whitaker

"Going to the downhill hurdle he had a grab at it and landed on all fours," he said. "From then on down the back it was really hard work, the ground is almost on the heavy side.

"It was a very rough race going up the hill and round the top there I got shuffled back. I tried to switch him out wide to try and get him travelling, to give him a bit of light and comfort in himself. Then the horse has fallen in front of me and nearly knocked me over. Then it was just a case of picking up the pieces.

"He is so talented this horse. He has tremendous gears and gets you out of an awful lot of trouble. Wherever he goes next season it might be that we've found another really good one."

Altior went on to prove an outstanding two-mile chaser and fences beckon for Shishkin, who received a quote of 7-1 for next year's Racing Post Arkle Chase from Paddy Power.

Watch Shiskin demonstrate courage and class to land the Supreme

Henderson indicated that switch is likely and said: "Shishkin and Chantry House are two gorgeous horses for the future, there's a lot to look forward to. They've won point-to-points and that's probably where they'll go.

"Shishkin has got those gears and he needed them to get out of the trouble he'd got into. It was no fault of Nico's, he gave him a wonderful ride and he's done well to get out of it."

Abacadabras is set to stay over hurdles and trainer Gordon Elliott said: "He ran a great race, and while it is disappointing to lose out, he was only beaten a head. The way the race worked out he was left in front a bit too soon but he jumped great and didn't do anything wrong.

"Our fellow is a very speedy horse and he could be a Champion Hurdle horse."

Read more day one reports here:

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De Bromhead hails 'special' display from wonderwomen Honeysuckle and Blackmore

Boilover! Put The Kettle On springs Arkle surprise for De Bromhead and Coleman

From hospital woe to festival glory: fairytale win for The Conditional's owner

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