Ascot Chase: Shishkin has five to beat on step up

“It does look more open this year but Shishkin has been racing like a horse who wants further to me and I hope I’m right.”

Shishkin returns to the scene of one of his finest hours at Ascot – a place where he won an all-time classic against Energumene in the 2021 Clarence House Chase.

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It was Shishkin’s stamina that helped him see off Willie Mullins’ Champion Chase hero and Henderson believes the writing was on the wall from that day regarding his charge requiring further.

He continued: “It was a tough race and you don’t really like to see horses racing off the bridle for so long the whole time.

“That’s what he’s had to do the last two times. I want to see him going round on the bridle and he’s got to be better for it.”

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls fields Pic D’Orhy, who has won each of his three starts this term, including Grade Twos at Huntingdon and Kempton.

Nicholls said of the gelding: “The big difference with him is he’s a big horse and he’s just matured at last. He’s twice the horse he was last season as a model, he’s well and strong and he keeps improving.

“He wasn’t really jumping that well, the first season he had a couple of falls so he was a novice for a second season.

“Last year at Newbury in the Ladbrokes meeting, he was going to absolutely bolt in in the Grade Two novice chase and he took a fairly heavy fall at the first in the straight.

Pic D'Orhy absolutely coasts home in the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase under @CobdenHarry. 🏆 🐎#ITVRacing | @kemptonparkrace |@PFNicholls pic.twitter.com/SpmKflocKm

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“I think that shook him a bit and woke him up, he’s been very careful and good after that.

“This season his jumping has been fantastic, he’s a Betfair Hurdle winner so he’s always had plenty of ability.

“He’s a little bit like Bravemansgame, massive horses that just take all this time to reach full maturity. He’s probably the finished article now and hopefully he can keep improving.”

First Flow, winner of the race in 2021, represents Kim Bailey with Aye Right for Harriet Graham and Gary Rutherford, plus Alex Hales’ Millers Bank completing the line-up.

Donald McCain’s Minella Drama was the only horse not declared.

Ascot Chase betting odds

6/4 Fakir D’oudairies

11/4 Shishkin

5/2 Pic D’Orhy

8/1 Millers Bank

22/1 First Flow

40/1 Aye Right

View the latest horse racing odds

All odds and market correct at date of publication