Nicky Henderson says Shishkin will be 'as good as gold' at Newcastle start as he goes back to basics for Rehearsal Chase

Nicky Henderson plans to go "back to the basics" with star chaser Shishkin, who will run without cheekpieces in Saturday's BetMGM Rehearsal Chase (3.05) at Newcastle.

The six-time Grade 1 winner, who was wearing cheekpieces for the first time before refusing to race in Ascot's 1965 Chase on Saturday, will potentially face seven rivals on his first start in handicap company.

Shishkin will race off top weight of 12st and will concede upwards of 21lbs to the rest of the field, although five of his prospective rivals will be forced to run from out of the handicap due to Shishkin's lofty 173 rating. 

Henderson is making sure his team will do all they can to ensure he goes off without a hitch at the start. He said: "You've got to take the whole thing back to basics. Cheekpieces weren't the reason he didn't start at Ascot but I'm going back to square one.

"The only thing I can't take back to square one is having someone walk in behind him with a little persuader [hunting crop] who can just say, 'click, click and go'. We'll have someone from the yard there and lead him in, which I'm sure will help. He's fine and will be as good as gold."

Last year's Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Ga Law has been declared to run for Jamie Snowden, who has left Datsalrightgino in the race too as his second preference.

He is set to contest the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury as his first preference, as is the Topham Chase winner Bill Baxter, who has also been left in the Rehearsal.

Constitution Hill confirmed for Fighting Fifth return

Shishkin's stablemate and superstar hurdler Constitution Hill will face four rivals as he makes his eagerly awaited comeback in the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle (1.55) on the same card.

The reigning Champion Hurdler was a brilliant 12-length winner of the Grade 1 on his return last year and begins a similar path to the Cheltenham Festival, with Nico de Boinville booked to ride.

Constitution Hill: star hurdler will return in Saturday's Fighting Fifth Hurdle

He will face off against classy mare Love Envoi, who finished second in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham behind Honeysuckle in March, but has not been seen since disappointing at Punchestown in April.

Mares' Novices' Hurdle heroine You Wear It Well has also been declared to run. The Jamie Snowden-trained six-year-old made a winning comeback in a Listed contest at Wetherby this month.

Not So Sleepy, who dead-heated with Epatante in the 2021 running, will contest the Fighting Fifth for the third time and will be ridden by Daryl Jacob, with regular partner Jonathan Burke riding Love Envoi. The Sandy Thomson-trained Benson completes the five-runner field.

Henderson said it will be an "important day" for Constitution Hill and Shishkin if Newcastle's card survives the cold weather. Officials are expecting to call an inspection on raceday morning, with temperatures set to drop to -3C on Friday night.

Henderson added: "There's a certain amount of trepidation because it's going to be an important day between the two of them. The weather is causing us nightmares and we could do with some clarity but there might not be any until Saturday morning. The Newcastle runners will go up on Friday." 

Fighting Fifth Hurdle confirmed runners and riders

Benson Ryan Mania
Constitution Hill Nico de Boinville
Not So Sleepy Daryl Jacob
Love Envoi Jonathan Burke
You Wear It Well Gavin Sheehan

Paddy Power: 1-6 Constitution Hill, 13-2 Love Envoi, 14 You Wear It Well, 20 Not So Sleepy, 66 Benson

Rehearsal Chase confirmed runners and riders

Shishkin Nico de Boinville
Ga Law Gavin Sheehan
Datsalrightgino (2nd preference) tbc
Elvis Mail Bruce Lynn
Ciel De Neige Richie McLernon
A Wave Of The Sea Jack Hogan
Empire Steel Danny McMenamin 
Bill Baxter (2nd preference) Jonathan Burke

Sky Bet: 6-4 Shishkin, 4 Empire Steel, 7 Bill Baxter, 8 Elvis Mail, Ga Law, 9 Datsalrightgino, 20 A Wave Of The Sea, 25 Ciel De Neige

Read these next:

Festival winners in waiting? The Irish novices battling for Grade 1 glory at Fairyhouse this weekend 

Shishkin set to run in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle on Saturday as course faces prospect of freezing temperatures 

Who will win the 2023 Coral Gold Cup at Newbury based on previous trends? 

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