Henderson eyes Tingle Creek as Shishkin gets 'green light' to return to training

Nicky Henderson has revealed that Shishkin has been "given the green light" to return to training, with potential races for the 176-rated chaser being explored.

The eight-year-old was last seen being pulled up in the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, after which he was found to be suffering from a rare bone condition.

After missing the remainder of the 2021-22 season as a result of his injury, Henderson provided a positive update on Monday.

"He’s been given the green light to return to full training, and he’s been back for a few weeks – everyone is very pleased with him," he said.

"The injury was very complicated and we’ve tried to explain it as simply as we can. When you take a bone scan, you’re trying to find hotspots and you usually look for one, but he had five.

Nicky Henderson: 'It will be tight, but he'll tell us when he's ready and if we can get to Sandown then we'll go'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"The bone condition has been seen in horses before, but it’s very rare and just typical that he suffered from it.

"These issues are all part of the game because something usually comes up and hits you in the face, but maybe not as rare as this. The good news is that it's gone and these scans have shown no signs of any hotspots."

Where and when Shishkin reappears has yet to be decided, but Henderson has not ruled out the Tingle Creek at Sandown in early December – a race the Lambourn trainer has won previously with the likes of Altior and Sprinter Sacre.

Henderson said: "The Tingle Creek on December 3 is possible, but I am not going to say he’ll definitely make it there because if he doesn’t people will scream.

"It will be tight, but he’ll tell us when he’s ready and if we can get to Sandown then we’ll go. If not, we’ll go the same route as last year and look at the Desert Orchid Chase and then the Clarence House.

"The great thing about these horses is that they tell you if they’re ready. He’ll do that himself, it’s not up to me. It’s all about if he’s happy."

Shishkin has been recovering at Charlie and Tracy Vigors' Hillwood Stud, where he goes during the summer, and Henderson was pleased to welcome last year’s Arkle winner back to Seven Barrows.

"He’s done a lot of work with the Vigors family and has spent time on the horsewalker doing a lot of build-up work," he said.

Shishkin and Energumene battle it out in the Clarence House Chase at AscotCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Prior to pulling up in the Champion Chase, Shishkin was involved in arguably one of the races of the season as he edged out Energumene in a classic Clarence House Chase at Ascot in January.

"I can remember that great race at Ascot and that’s the race everyone should be talking about, not the Champion Chase," said Henderson.

"That was the best race of the season and we’ll remember him for that. We might go for that race again, but for now we’ll take it steady."

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