Shishkin has “got it all” hails Nico de Boinville after Doncaster triumph

The context is critical after Nico de Boinville hailed steeplechasing’s new superstar Shishkin as the horse that has “got it all” following a faultless win at Doncaster.
Shishkin ridden by Nico de Boinville clears a fence before going on to win the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Lightning Novices' Chase at Doncaster. Photo: Tim Goode - Pool/Getty ImagesShishkin ridden by Nico de Boinville clears a fence before going on to win the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Lightning Novices' Chase at Doncaster. Photo: Tim Goode - Pool/Getty Images
Shishkin ridden by Nico de Boinville clears a fence before going on to win the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Lightning Novices' Chase at Doncaster. Photo: Tim Goode - Pool/Getty Images

This is the jockey, after all, who rode Sprinter Sacre to an improbable second Queen Mother Champion Chase before twice winning the Cheltenham Festival’s showpiece two-mile race twice on Altior. Both rank amongst the all-time great two-mile chasers.

And while next month’s Arkle Trophy will provide sterner opposition for Shishkin, who is now unbeaten from three starts over fences, this effortless win in the Grade Two Lightning Novices’ Chase enhanced the horse’s reputation.

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It wasn’t just Shishkin’s jumping which became more eyecatching as the race progressed on Town Moor where a smattering of spectators were present to catch a glimpse of a special horse; it was the manner in which de Bounville’s mount passed the winning post. He wasn’t slowing down and Cheltenham’s uphill finish won’t be an issue.

Takingrisks ridden by Sean Quinlan (centre) before going on to win the Sky Bet Handicap Chas at Doncaster.Takingrisks ridden by Sean Quinlan (centre) before going on to win the Sky Bet Handicap Chas at Doncaster.
Takingrisks ridden by Sean Quinlan (centre) before going on to win the Sky Bet Handicap Chas at Doncaster.

After all, Shishkin won last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Natinal Hunt Festival – and is following a similar trajectory to both Sprinter Sacre and Altior, who were also trained by Nicky Henderson.

With Cheddleton a late absentee, only four went to post with Eldorado Allen and Est Illic setting a decent tempo in the testing ground before Est Illic found it too much. De Boinville just had to niggle on the odds-on favourite, but he joined Eldorado Allen at the fourth last and the race was soon over.

Shishkin’s jumping in the straight was perfect and he finished with his head in his chest, prevailing by eight and a half lengths. “They tried to turn it into a test on that ground. It didn’t seem to faze Shishkin at all. He jumped and travelled,” enthused the winning jockey.

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“He was just slightly hanging left. He’s like that at home. Some days he can wake up and hang left, some days hang right. It’s just how he’s feeling. Some days he’s as straight as a die. It doesn’t stop him or slow him down. It doesn’t bother him. I’m excited about him, the whole team are as well.”

Aware of the pressure of public expectation, de Boinville added: “We’re just delighted to get that out of the way. It gives us plenty of time to prep going to the Festival. Jonjo O’Neill junior flicked the button. He gave his horse (Eldorado Allen) a slap down the shoulder. It lit Shishkin up and off he went.

“He doesn’t waste any time in the air. He’s a very slick jumper. He almost hurdles his fences, which the best two-milers do. The faster they went, the better he jumped. I think he’s got it all and he’s answered our calls. We’re excited and looking forward to what he can do.”

The relief was plain in the post-race reaction of the aforementioned Henderson after some of his more established stars, like Epatante, Buveur D’Air and Santini, suffered reverses earlier in the season.

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He was aware that the horse, owned by Joe Donnelly, had effectively had little to gain, and a lot to lose, by heading to Doncaster, but he was keen for the chaser to get much needed match practice on a racecourse.

“It’s a no-win situation really. He had to do what he did otherwise everyone is disappointed,” reflected the champion trainer.

“He was good and as far as I’m concerned, it was what we wanted. Nico said they went a good gallop, the ground was hard work but he jumped accurately.

“We haven’t used this race before the Arkle with Sprinter Sacre and Altior, but we are very lucky to keep finding these seriously good horses.

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“This lad won the Supreme, like Altior, but Sprinter was only third under Mr (Tony) McCoy, as he was at the time. He’s different to the other two in a lot of ways as he doesn’t tank through races, he’s very amenable, just as he is in his work. The other two were bruisers, they want every canter to be a gallop!

“It actually makes things a little easier with him as you press the button to go faster, but you can flick the switch off.”

Henderson added: “I’m mighty relieved. I’ve just spoken to Joe Donnelly and he said he’d never been so nervous.”

Meanwhile, Takingrisks stayed on stoutly to see off the bold front-running bid of Aye Right to secure a notable one-two for the North in the feature Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster.

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The 2019 Scottish National hero was largely unfancied under in-form jockey Sean Quinlan, but again proved he has stamina in abundance.

Aye Right, trained in the snow-bound Scottish Borders by Harriet Graham, gave his all once more, just as he had in the Ladbrokes Trophy in which he finished second to Cloth Cap at Newbury.

He was still in front jumping the last under Callum Bewley as the favourite, Cap Du Nord, who travelled smoothly throughout before hitting the second last hard, and Takingrisks bore down on him.

As Cap Du Nord began to tire, it was the Nicky Richards-trained 12-year-old who kept finding more. “I think time has slipped him past for the Grand National,” said the Cumbrian handler. “I think he’ll probably go for the Scottish National.”

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