Shishkin justified his prohibitive odds when taking his winning streak to seven with an easy victory in the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham.

Winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on this card 12 months ago, Shishkin is now unbeaten in four races over fences as he gave trainer Nicky Henderson a seventh Arkle – a race the Seven Barrows trainer has taken with stars such as Sprinter Sacre and Altior.

The 4/9 favourite was always travelling well in the hands of Nico de Boinville, as Allmankind and Captain Guinness made it a true-run race over the two miles.

Shishkin joined the two leaders at the third-last fence, setting sail for home and going on to score by 12 lengths.

Eldorado Allen picked up the pieces for second place close home, just ahead of Captain Guinness and Allmankind.

Shishkin was given a quote of 5/2 for next year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase with Coral and William Hill, while Paddy Power went 6/4.

Henderson said: “We’d always hoped (to win like that), but you never expect. It was strange, it will be all week without the crowds, but it doesn’t make it any easier watching them. Winners here are winners tough and without the crowd they are still special.

“We knew there was going to be plenty of pace, I didn’t know the other horse (Captain Guinness) would take him (Allmankind) on as well. But he’s got a high cruising speed and just sat on their tails.

“He came wide and had plenty of space, but he was impressive the way he came up the hill.

“We’ve had great days here in this race, Sprinter Sacre, then Altior followed him and it’s a shame he’s missing this week, but it’s extraordinary to find another. He looked as good as the other two did in this race today. He’s got a long way to go to match them, but you had to be delighted with what he did today.

“It was a different challenge today. We schooled on Thursday and he nearly hurdles his fences, he’s very quick which frightens you a little. He’s very fast, he’s always looked like a chaser but he’s definitely a two-miler, he’s just a natural.”

He added: “Yesterday was a horrible day (having to rule Altior out of the Champion Chase), the second year running. For the Pughs (owners) it was tragic, having to make that call was no fun at all and you worry about the week starting that way.

“We always say we’d settle for one and it’s nice we’ve got one on the board. I don’t know if we can enjoy it, but we can box on.

“Altior has a bacterial infection, he can’t give that to anybody, hopefully we can clear it up. In time for Aintree I don’t know, but he’ll easily be ready for the Celebration Chase. Sandown is probably the likeliest.

“Whether Shishkin runs again, I don’t know, but why not? That was only his fourth run over fences. That was the first big question he was asked and when you see an answer like that you think why not. Aintree is the only option, but it is a short break this year.”

Jaydon Lee, the groom responsible for Shishkin also told ITV Racing: “He is one in a million, I love him to pieces every day. It’s just amazing to look after him. He is fairly quiet [at home]. You wouldn’t really notice him in the string. But by God he’s got some engine.”

Colin Tizzard, was delighted with his 33-1 runner-up, Eldorado Allen: “Finishing second in the Arkle is lovely. We left it until the last minute on Sunday to make a decision as he was in the handicap as well (Grand Annual). You look back and think perhaps we should have gone for the other one, but Shishkin won it easily and we were so chuffed he stayed on. It looks as though he’s a stayer and we’ll have a go at Aintree next I would have thought.

“If there would have been 15 in this race we would have gone for the handicap, but when we declared there was only five, so it was just lovely to get second. We’ve had a hard-ish season, but he’s done nothing wrong all year and he was probably the same distance behind the winner there as he was at Doncaster. Shishkin’s a very good horse, and there’s a very good chance we’ll go for the novice at Aintree now.”

Eldorado Allen’s jockey Harry Cobden added: “That was a lovely run, I think the couple in front of us just went very hard from the start and after halfway round I just half-rode him to finish in the best possible position really and try save a bit for the hill because you know what it’s like, you turn in and your fuel gauge is empty and you don’t get too far. But he stayed on really well and I’m just delighted with the run.

“Obviously when there’s only five runners every horse has got a chance, but I thought Shishkin was going to be very hard to beat, so I’d have been delighted if you’d have said at the start of the week that he’d finish second in the Arkle - you’d certainly take that.”

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of third, Captain Guinness: “He was a bit too keen but ran really well. He jumped great and galloped to the line, so I’m delighted with him. He won’t come back for Aintree. If anything, he’d go to Punchestown.”

Jockey Rachael Blackmore added: “He was too free everywhere unfortunately. He’s a really nice horse but he just did too much.”

Dan Skelton, trainer of fourth Allmankind; “He’s run well and I’m proud of him. It was a solid run and he tried hard and jumped brilliantly the whole way. He was a bit wrong at the last, but he kept his head up and just tired up the run-in because he’d given everything.

“We put it out there and we didn’t leave anything behind, but the winner is an exceptional animal. We’ll give Aintree a go, and you’d think he’d love it around there, but how much a hard race in the Arkle has taken out of him remains to be seen.”

1st – Shishkin – Nicky Henderoin 7-11-04 Nico de Boinville 4/9F

2nd – Eldorado Allen – Colin Tizzard 7-11-04 Harry Cobden 33/1

3rd – Captain Guinness – Henry de Bromhead IRE 6-11-04 Rachael Blackmore 10/1