Nicky Henderson: 'No-one's ducking and diving - nobody is frightened of anybody'

Shishkin, Greaneteen and Edwardstone are set to clash in the Grade 1 Betfair Tingle Creek at Sandown on Saturday just days after British trainers were criticised for being too risk-averse when it comes to pitching their best horses into battle against each other.

Shishkin’s trainer Nicky Henderson embraced the challenge by saying “it’s the way it should be” after putting aside reservations about the potential suitability of the ground at Sandown, with Alan King making the same call with Edwardstone after being forced to miss two previous engagements due to drying underfoot conditions last month.

Henderson said the line-up for the Tingle Creek showed that no-one was “ducking and diving” one another, as had been suggested by Gordon Elliott this week when discussing the strength of jump racing in Ireland and the recent dominance of its horses over those trained in Britain. Paul Nicholls, who trains Greaneteen had labelled the thought “bull****” on Tuesday.

Shishkin lines up for the first time since his flop in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, after which he was diagnosed with a rare bone condition, which he is now over.

Henderson’s eagerness to head to Sandown comes despite the talent and bullishness of the opposition, most notably from Greaneteen’s trainer Nicholls, who described the race as a "home game" for last year’s winner due to his excellent record over fences at the course.

Shishkin: star ready to return in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

“We’ve got to start somewhere and a Grade 1 is where these good horses should be meeting, so it’s going to be a very competitive race,” Henderson said. “They are the best two-milers around, apart from Energumene, so nobody is ducking and diving and it’s the way it should be – nobody is frightened of anybody.

“I know there’s a lot of confidence coming from Ditcheat [about Greaneteen], which I respect. He’s a very good horse but we have to hope that the Shishkin we had at Ascot for that epic clash with Energumene [in January] in the race of the season is back. If he is, then he should be highly competitive.

“I can’t guarantee that but I can guarantee he’s over the mega problem he had after Cheltenham. It’s going to be a big test but I don’t see it as an ‘away game’ for him.”

The ground on the chase course at Sandown was described as good, good to soft in places on Thursday by clerk of the course Andrew Cooper, with a cool and dry forecast in the run up to the weekend.

Conditions would not be a problem for Shishkin, Henderson said, speaking at a Jockey Club press event for the Tingle Creek meeting, and that the race had always been the plan provided he and stable jockey Nico de Boinville were happy with the eight-year-old.

“One or two people seem surprised [we’re running],” the trainer said. “If he was well he was always going to run and I’m sure the ground is going to be all right. We talked to Andrew earlier in the week and while it’s dry, it’s not that long since the racing was abandoned here because it was waterlogged.

“Shishkin’s come to himself pretty well. I think he looks fantastic and he schooled brilliantly yesterday. Nico rode him over ten fences and he was very pleased with him.”

Jonbon: the general 2-1 favourite for the Sporting Life Arkle at the Cheltenham FestivalCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

As well as Shishkin, Henderson is unleashing another of his stars at Sandown with Jonbon taking on three rivals in the Grade 1 Close Brothers Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.

Jonbon is the general 2-1 favourite for the Sporting Life Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival after an impressive debut win over fences at Warwick last month, and Henderson felt the way he responded to the challenge laid down to him that day was particularly noteworthy.

“The fact Monmiral took him on at Warwick over those first five fences and for him to then do what he did was very impressive,” he said.

“It was a really good test and this is another test, and another day. He jumps very well and was fantastic when he schooled this morning, we’re very happy with him.

“He’s a pretty sensible horse and, even though he sweats before he races, when he is racing he’s got a very good racing mind. Hopefully there’ll be something to give him a lead and he can drop in, but if there isn’t then it doesn’t matter.

“There’ll definitely be nerves but we believe in him and if he does what he did at Warwick again, then he should be hard to beat.”

Betfair Tingle Creek Chase (2.55 Sandown, Saturday)

Betfair: Evens Shishkin, 9-4 Greaneteen, 5 Edwardstone, 8 Gentleman De Mee, 33 Funambule Sivola, 100 Dunvegan

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