Betfair Ascot Chase: Shishkin booked for February return after missing Silviniaco Conti Chase with setback
Shishkin missed Saturday's Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton after he 'flipped his palate' in a piece of work; trainer Nicky Henderson says 'timing looks good' for return in Betfair Ascot Chase on February 18, live on Sky Sports Racing
Saturday 14 January 2023 13:51, UK
Nicky Henderson is looking towards the Betfair Ascot Chase in February for the next outing of Shishkin.
The Seven Barrows handler revealed earlier this month his nine-year-old had "flipped his palate" in a piece of work and would need 10 days off while the problem was resolved, ruling out a step up in distance for the Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton.
Shishkin - beaten into third behind Edwardstone in the Tingle Creek Chase on his reappearance this season - will now try a trip in excess of two miles for the first time over fences in the Grade One feature at Ascot next month.
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Giving an update on plans at Kempton Park on Saturday, Henderson said: "He's had his palate tightened and the procedure is so simple, it's like tightening a screw that's come loose. They call it a wind op, but in fact it's as far from a wind op as you can get, and he's back in action.
"The race we're looking at is the Ascot Chase [February 18] over two-miles-five. The timing looks good.
"The first time I knew he wanted two and a half was against Energumene when he was out of his comfort zone but still stayed on to beat the others.
"We found out we had a problem but after a couple of reverses he's ready to come back, and I would say it's odds-on we head for the Ryanair [at Cheltenham].
"If this works we might regret not entering him for the Queen Mother, but if we wanted to run we could supplement him.
"We've had very good horses like Sprinter [Sacre] who have had to come back, and he's the latest."
