Speedy Shishkin heading to the Supreme after effortless Huntingdon victory

Job done and decision made. If only all Cheltenham Festival preps were as easy as Shishkin's at Huntingdon on Thursday when he sauntered to an 11-length victory to cement his position at the head of the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle market.

Shishkin was already vying for favouritism for the opening race of the festival before his demolition of runner-up Shan Blue and three other rivals in the Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle, and is now rated the one to beat by all bookmakers.

Expert jury: does Shishkin deserve to be favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle?

And, rather than leaving the door open for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle over four and a half furlongs further, winning trainer Nicky Henderson was definite the Supreme was where the sleek six-year-old was heading next.

"We know which way we're going and he won't run again before the Tuesday of the festival," he said. "I don't think we were ever seriously going down the Ballymore road. He's got lots of speed and is a two-miler. He'll run in the Supreme."

Bookmakers listening in were quick to react to Henderson's words, with quotes ranging between 5-2 and 3-1 for the Supreme, making him clear favourite for a race Henderson last won with Altior in 2016.

Victory also raised the possibility of winning owners Joe and Marie Donnelly sending the first and second favourite into battle in the Supreme after Asterion Forlonge carried their yellow and black chequerboard silks to success at Grade 1 level in the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

"Mr Donnelly may have a couple of rather good shots at the Supreme," said Henderson. "He's a lovely man and has some really nice horses. He's great and says he doesn't mind finishing first and second in the Supreme!"

Shishkin: favourite for the Supreme Novices' HurdleCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Despite starting 1-2, Shishkin faced rivals rated 143, 141 and 139 at Huntingdon, but it was blatantly clear turning for home that he was in another league under a motionless Nico de Boinville and Henderson certainly liked what he saw.

"That was perfect," said the trainer. "That's what you're trying to do and that's what those races are about. You're always nervous and they were very respectable opposition, but he's got a lot of gears. Nico mentioned the Ballymore after Newbury last time, but he was only in first gear today and proved he can do anything you like."

Always held in high regard by the Lambourn trainer, Shishkin's only defeat from three previous starts under rules had come on his hurdling debut at Newbury in December when he fell at the second hurdle. Despite having the look of a future chaser, he was notably slick at his hurdles on this occasion.

Victory in the Supreme would give Henderson his fourth success in the festival curtain-raiser and the trainer even made a comparison or two with his latest winner of the race when summing up why he rated Shishkin so highly.

He said: "He's a beautiful horse and that's exactly what you hope. He's a chaser in the making. I'm not saying he's another Altior but he's an Altior-type of horse. He has a lot of speed and a lot of scope. He's a good-looking, chasing-type of animal whom we rather like."

Nicky Henderson's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winners
1986 River Ceiriog
1992 Flown
2016 Altior

It would be going some for festival week to top last year for the Donnellys, who landed the biggest prize of all when Al Boum Photo won the Gold Cup, but the owners are putting together a festival team sheet to rival anyone.

As well as Shishkin and Asterion Forlonge, they also have another smart novice hurdler in The Big Getaway, as well as established stars, Melon and Al Boum Photo, who is a general 4-1 favourite to retain his Gold Cup crown.

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