Shishkin set for 'hike in trip' as Nicky Henderson ponders next move

Shishkin is more likely to be seen in the Gold Cup than the Champion Chase come Cheltenham in March, according to the dual festival winner's trainer Nicky Henderson.

The Supreme and Arkle winner could finish no better than third, some 15 lengths adrift of Edwardstone, in Saturday's Grade 1 Betfair Tingle Creek at Sandown and Henderson's immediate conclusion was Britain's once-dominant two-mile chaser simply lacks the gears for the minimum trip now.

Shishkin was unbeaten in seven starts over fences until pulling up when sent off the 5-6 favourite for last season's Queen Mother Champion Chase, and a second defeat – looking outpaced from a fair way out when sent off the 6-5 favourite – has connections keen to try the eight-year-old over further.

"We are thinking, with all the great sages we have around us, that we need to go up in trip," said Henderson after an in-depth post-race debrief that included jockey Nico de Boinville and owner Jim Donnelly.

"He was flat to the boards there, his jumping kept him in it until three out and that did him in. He was fighting to keep there, but I honestly don't think he's a two miler anymore. He needs to go up, how far up I don't know. We'll see.

Shishkin (right) finished 15 lengths behind EdwardstoneCredit: Edward Whitaker

"His next run will definitely be over further. He was trying and his jumping kept him in it but he was flat to the boards. It happens, he's just lost that two-mile speed and he's going to need further, and he could be anything."

Where he will be seen next has not yet been worked out but Henderson was emphatic he would not consider supplementing him for the King George at Kempton this month.

"We won't even think about how far for the moment, but we won't be messing about I can tell you. We'll try him over a trip. He's not in the King George and it wouldn't be the right race for him so we wouldn't even think of supplementing him.

"We will see what there is, I haven't looked that closely but he'll get a hike in trip, possibly a significant one. I'm not saying we're going to put him in the Grand National or anything like that, but, if you asked me now, when we are making the entries for Cheltenham in January the one he wouldn't be in is the Champion Chase."

Sky Bet responded by inserting Shishkin at 25-1 for the Gold Cup. He was pushed out to 10-1 for the Champion Chase, with last season's winner Energumene shortening into 6-4, and is available to back at 7-1 for the intermediate Ryanair Chase.

It was also reported after the race that Shishkin was kicked by another runner at the start, but he was deemed fit to race after being examined.

One place and six lengths in front of Shishkin was Greaneteen, and his trainer Paul Nicholls confirmed all roads lead back to Sandown for last year's winner.

"We were just beaten by a better horse on the day," he said. "He travelled well, jumped well but wasn't good enough. It's as simple as that and that's obviously a very smart horse who has improved.

"Our number one aim will be the Celebration Chase back here, but we might go for the Champion Chase on the way. A bit of good ground in the spring and you're in the mix. I wouldn't want to run him on deep ground this winter so I wouldn't be surprised if we had him nice and fresh for Cheltenham and then came back here for the Celebration Chase."

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