Shishkin can hasten a Henderson revival with victory in Bowl
| Published date | 10 April 2024 |
| Publication title | Weekender |
Rarely does the Gold Cup winner rock up here and the three that did were all beaten, namely Dawn Run, Desert Orchid and Imperial Commander. Their reversals set the tone for all prominent finishers from the Gold Cup to have tried their luck here.
Of the 23 winners in 39 years to come via the Gold Cup, 15 finished outside the top four, consequently escaping harder races than the principals. Their exact finishing positions were 88522U664240P5U2847FU2U.
Take on the favourite with Shishkin, who was prepared for Cheltenham but withdrawn due to his stable's welldocumented troubles. Nicky Henderson's ten-year-old can emulate Wayward Lad, Docklands Express, First Gold, Silviniaco Conti and Clan Des Obeaux by winning this for a second time.
Shishkin might well have won the King George had he not unseated after two out and that race is traditionally influential. Like Aintree, Kempton is a flat, speedorientated circuit and former winners of this finished 356731112241114232 on Boxing Day since 1985.
Although a ten-year-old, age is no barrier to success with 16 past winners into double digits and eight were older than Shishkin.
Luccia looks the part It was unusual for the Stayers' Hurdle to provide back-toback winners of the 2m4f Aintree Hurdle, as in 2018 and 2019, and normal business has resumed with Abacadabras (fell at Cheltenham), Epatante (second) and Constitution Hill (first) coming out of the Champion Hurdle.
Thirteen of the last 14 winners all ran at the festival (counting against Bob Olinger) and ten contested the twomile championship. Annie Power, Buveur D'Air and Constitution Hill emulated Istabraq in doing this double, while six of the other seven recorded a top-four finish.
All this naturally heightens interest in Luccia, who was best of the British in finishing third behind State Man.
Triumph form gold dust The selection for the Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle simply must come out of the Triumph Hurdle.
Sir Gino was forced out of Cheltenham and now returns after an absence of 75 days. Ready preference is for the festival runner-up Kargese.
Since being promoted to Grade 1 status in 2005, the highest-placed horses from the juvenile championship boast a terrific record having finished 11212127162131221.
Pied Piper was the qualifier two years ago and got demoted after...
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