HE came with a tall reputation and, at the second attempt, Shishkin delivered.
Nicky Henderson’s exciting six-year-old only made it as far as the second obstacle on his hurdling debut at Newbury last month.
But he set the record straight returned to the same venue with an impressive victory under Nico de Boinville on Wednesday.
All the money came for Ben Pauling’s Shakem Up’Arry (7-4jf), owned by former Spurs and Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp, and he attempted to lead from pillar to post in testing conditions.
No matter how hard jockey Daryl Jacob tried, though, he couldn’t get Shishkin (7-4jf) off the bridle, and the strapping son of Sholokov cruised into the lead after a slick jump at the last.
He quickly opened up on the run-in to win by 11 widening lengths, prompting bookies to take evasive action in the Cheltenham Festival antepost markets.
He is as short as 12-1 (from 25) and 20-1 for the Supreme and Ballymore respectively with William Hill.
Henderson grinned: “He’s very smart, it’s just unfortunate what happened here the first time.
“Nico said he learnt from that, he was a bit gassy that day and he was trying to take the world on.
“Today he was just beautifully relaxed and he never touched a hurdle, it was all very smooth.
“You have to be impressed the way he quickened up like that from the last on that ground, not many horses can do that.
“He’s got gears but he might just want 2m4f. I you’re thinking about the Supreme you’ve got to think of the Ballymore as well.
“I would like to get another run into him, for all he was very professional today. That was his first proper run over hurdles.
“He could (go up in grade) next time, but we will see, it’s experience that we want.
“It’s nice to know he goes on ground like that because he won his bumper on good ground, so we know he’s versatile now.”
Elsewhere on the card, Moonlighter (7-2) dented Precious Cargo’s (5-6f) own Festival prospects.
The odds-on favourite was scruffy over the last and was collared in the closing stages by Nick Williams’ seven-year-old.
Sprinter Sacre’s little brother Flinteur Sacreshaped with distinct promise in the concluding bumper.
He looked a chip off the old block in terms of appearance and stayed on well to finish second from well off the pace behind Your Darling.
