Does Shishkin deserve to be favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle?

Shishkin is the clear favourite for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle after his 11-length win in the Listed Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle at Huntingdon, a victory that maintained his unbeaten record over hurdles when completing. He is 3-1 with the sponsors of the Cheltenham Festival's opening race and three Racing Post reporters have answered the question: does Shishkin deserve to be favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle?

Asterion Forlonge should be favourite

No, the owner's other representative Asterion Forlonge is the one to beat in the Supreme and is a more deserving favourite. Admittedly Shiskin was impressive in the Sidney Banks and while it was registered as a Listed race, the field looked up to Grade 2 standard. He was in a different league to those opponents but Asterion Forlonge has already achieved more by virtue of his Grade 1 victory at Leopardstown when slamming Easywork. Shiskin is yet to defeat a horse of Easywork's calibre and although he may have the ability to at Cheltenham, a bigger price about Asterion Forlonge is of greater interest.
Robbie Wilders, tipster

He has the right attributes for Supreme test

Why not? Nicky Henderson adores him and thinks the world of the exciting Sholokhov gelding, and when it comes to two-mile hurdlers, few are as in the know as the Lambourn trainer. Henderson's opinion alone does not entitle a horse to be a superstar – otherwise we might still be talking about one-time Supreme fancy Jenkins – but Shishkin oozed class in the Sidney Banks, showing a sharp turn of foot and plenty of stamina for 2m3½f, a combination that will stand him in good stead for the festival opener, in which the five-time champion trainer has a fine record.
James Burn, Lambourn correspondent

Looks short price given lack of experience

Shishkin has certainly been impressive at Newbury and Huntingdon and his electric turn of foot appears his most potent weapon. However, the Supreme is often run at an end-to-end gallop that many trials are not and will provide a completely different test. Furthermore, he arguably lacks the right sort of experience after just three runs over hurdles and none above Listed company. Each of the last ten Supreme winners had raced between four and six times over hurdles and the last eight had all won at Grade 3 level or higher before Cheltenham. His market position is questionable given those factors.
Matt Butler, reporter

Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle card and betting

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