A REPROGRAMMED and rejuvenated Shishkin (168+) took Ascot by storm last Saturday, delivering everything Nicky Henderson hoped for to head into Cheltenham next month with all guns blazing.

The debate has now shifted to which race Henderson’s star chaser will tackle at the Festival, with the Gold Cup as well as the Ryanair Chase under consideration for the Joe Donnelly-owned gelding as the Champion Chase (not entered) was ruled out by trainer and jockey when interviewed post-race.

Aye Right (142) enjoyed his moment in the limelight at the head of affairs and, with the exuberant Pic D’Orhy (152) in close attendance, the duo were instrumental in producing the best time figure of the day, thrusting Shishkin to within touching distance of the summit of my ratings for the Ryanair Chase, in the absence of Allaho.

There were shades of the Clarence House Chase performance as the nine-year-old raced wide of his field, jumping accurately, conserving energy for the business end of the race.

However, there can be no doubt the majority of the Seven Barrows team would have held their breath as jockey Nico De Boinville moved to challenge approaching the second last fence.

Emphatic

The answer from the son of Sholokhov was emphatic, as he strode clear to win unchallenged and post the quickest closing sectional of the day in covering the ground from the fourth last obstacle in 65.8secs, which was 1.7secs quicker than Oscar Elite (145) who finished off his race in 67.5secs, having been afforded the luxury of a slower early gallop in his three-mile contest.

Nicky Henderson focused on how well Shishkin travelled and then quickened in the afterglow of his dominant victory so it would be a surprise to see him tempted to enter the unknown of the Gold Cup trip.

However, I could see a route to the race next season via the Betfair Chase at Haydock or the King George VI at Christmas.

Pic D’Orhy paid for his early exertions late in the race, although still produced a career-best over fences.

Paul Nicholls reported his next likely target to be the Melling Chase at Aintree, expressing the view that the eight-year-old is better suited by a flat track.

In the three-mile handicap chase Cap Du Nord (141) ran a marginally quicker overall time than Oscar Elite in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Chase although the evidence of the clock suggests the handicap was run at a stop-start gallop, with the initial pace set by Riders Onthe Storm slowing considerably heading out on the final circuit.

The Reynoldstown hero was 3.5secs quicker than the handicap winner through the final mile and five furlongs despite Christian Williams’ 10-year-old posting a closing sectional just 0.2secs slower, stopping the clock at 67.7secs.

The Grade 2 contest looks the better of the two contests, although I would not rule out Cap Du Nord following up this win as his finishing effort suggests he is in good form and his overall body of work confirms his strength is stamina.

He took his record to five wins from nine starts in the months of February and March with this comprehensive display.

Springwell Bay (132+) impressed in the opening race, with his final circuit time confirming the overall race time advantage over handicap winner Irish Hill as Jonjo O’Neill’s six-year-old produced the best time performance of the day over hurdles.

In covering the final circuit 1.0secs quicker than Paul Nicholls’s gelding, the Gay Smith-owned gelding won with any amount in hand as he finished off his race in 70.0secs, compared to the 69.5secs taken by Irish Hill (128). The data suggests Springwell Bay is better than a handicapper, a view endorsed by his trainer post-race.

Slowest

Although Thomas Mor (128+) posted the slowest time figure of the day there was something quite taking about his finishing effort as along with Loup De Maulde he pulled clear of his field.

The clock confirms the sprightly finish as David Pipe’s chesnut covered the ground from the third last hurdle quicker than both previous hurdle winners, stopping the clock at 68.1secs.

Thomas Mor’s victory was also notable for being the sixth individual winner to have contested the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury, won by Ballymore Hurdle bound Hermes Allen.

At Sandown on Thursday, You Wear It Well (137), who was second at Newbury, posted the quickest time of the day over hurdles at the Esher track when winning the Grade 2 Jane Seymour Mares’ Novice’ Hurdle.

Jamie Snowden’s mare may bid to follow in the footsteps of Love Envoi who won the Sandown race on route to landing the Grade 2 novice contest for mares at the Festival.