Shishkin vs Energumene – this is no monster clash, my fancy will wipe the floor with his rival

BY just after 3.40pm this afternoon I might look an utter idiot. 

That’s because all day people will be telling you there is a huge smash up between Shishkin and Energumene in the Grade 1 SBK Clarence House Chase at Ascot.

Shishkin is already favourite for the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival

But I don’t think it will be a monster clash at all, for all that beforehand it’s exciting to suggest such a case. 

My reasoning is simple. I’ve long been of the opinion that Shishkin is a horse from another planet. 

There tend not to be too many of those. As such, the chance two will beat each other up in one afternoon seems very unlikely. If not nigh on impossible. 

Of course I might be wrong, and I’m not fussed about that. 

I’ll get the stick on social media which will make others feel good. So that will make me happy. 

Added to that, I have an opinion. And there is no one who offers an opinion before an event that is always right. 

Bring it on.

I truly would love there to be a ‘Grundy v Bustino’ moment at Ascot today. It’s been a long time over jumps since Desert Orchid v Panto Prince but we still look back at that race in awe.

Shishkin, representing former champion trainer Nicky Henderson and his stable jockey Nico de Boinville, has only been beaten once in eleven starts and that was when falling at the second in a maiden hurdle at Newbury when 8-11. 

After that his wins have included a class success in the Grade 1 Supreme at Cheltenham and the Grade 1 Arkle at the following year’s fixture. He’s also a Grade 1 winner at Aintree. 

Last time, Shishkin destroyed the Tingle Creek winner Greaneteen at Kempton. He’d taken his time to come to hand, but boy did he hack up and had a nice blow as well suggesting much more to come.

In all those victories Shishkin has mixed the travelling power of a Sprinter Sacre with the stamina of Altior. Those two Henderson champion chasers were were also monsters. Beasts I tell you.

Energumene runs in the colours of Brighton owner Tony Bloom

Of course mixed in with the facts about Shishkin – having his second run after a wind operation – are my opinions.  

Officially, Shishkin is not much better than Energumene, who represents the juggernaut handler Willie Mullins from Ireland and that country’s champion Paul Townend. 

Shishkin is rated 172, Energumene is on 171. That’s a tiny error differential. 

Energumene has only raced eight times and has won seven. His only defeat came in a bumper at Navan. In those days he was held up. Now he’s a swift front-runner.