'We'll see Energumene in the Tingle Creek' - bone issue revealed for Shishkin

Nicky Henderson on Tuesday spoke of his relief that a rare and hopefully one-off ailment has emerged to explain Shishkin's disappointing performance in the Champion Chase and he is already looking forward to a third showdown with Energumene in the Tingle Creek in December.

Successful in the Supreme and Arkle at the 2020 and 2021 festivals, Shishkin beat Energumene in an epic Clarence House Chase at Ascot in January and was 5-6 favourite for their rematch at Cheltenham last month, but never got involved and was pulled up by Nico de Boinville after eight fences as Willie Mullins' raider motored home.

The rain-softened ground was put forward as an immediate reason, but a bone condition, which Henderson has never encountered during his long and distinguished career, has now come to light.

"Cheltenham was very disappointing and on the day we put it down to the ground, which was pretty extraordinary in the sense of how much rain there had been, but in our heart of hearts we felt there had to be another issue," he said.

Queen Mother Champion Chase full result and race replay

"A really good horse like him, who has won on soft ground before, is hardly going to dislike it that much and I was even unhappy going to the first fence because Nico wasn't where I expected him to be.

"I think we all knew there was something else bothering him. He was a bit off the next day and then he was sound, but the degree of lameness was minimal, and the question was why.

"We did all the health tests and lameness investigations and we dug and dug and dug and we found nothing. Because he was having this intermittent lameness on different legs and different parts of him, we did a full-body bone scan, which produced some bizarre results.

"Normally it will show you a hotspot, which is where the seat of the problem will be – a knee, a hock, a foot, a pastern, a joint – but there were four hotspots, which was bizarre. It's not that he's got a lameness condition in any one of them, it's just the fact he's got four spots on there and it's a bone condition."

Nicky Henderson with Shishkin: 'We had the most perfect run-up to Cheltenham with him'Credit: Ryan Pierse (Getty Images)

Henderson, who trains Shishkin for Joe and Marie Donnelly, added: "I've not seen it before. The vets are well aware of it and he's laying down bone in peculiar places and he shouldn't be doing it, and it's making him sore.

"We had the most perfect run-up to Cheltenham with him. He'd never given me a moment's worry and we couldn't work it out at all and I think we all knew there'd be something else, and I think a lot of other people did too. Indeed there was, but it took some bloody finding!

"He's on a bit of aspirin and will do four weeks of box rest and then four weeks of walking and trotting and then he'll go for his summer holiday. It's come and it will go and apparently it won't come back. It shouldn't, in everyone's opinion – it's a one-off issue."

Henderson is already thinking back from the Betfair-sponsored Tingle Creek at Sandown in December.

Shishkin (right) and Energumene: Clarence House clash was an epic at Ascot in JanuaryCredit: Edward Whitaker

"That will be the plan and there's no reason he shouldn't start perfectly normal next season, which would start with the Tingle Creek," the Lambourn trainer added.

"We'll continue the argument with Energumene if Willie brings him over and hopefully we can have rounds three, four and five with him.

"I've discussed it with the Donnellys, who are wonderful at accepting these issues. It's sad because we wanted to go to Sandown in a few weeks for the Celebration Chase, but we're not going to be able to. As long as he's all right next season that doesn't really matter. Joe and Marie have been fantastic, and that's horses for you."

Henderson on Tuesday also made his declarations for day one of Aintree's Grand National meeting and they did not feature his dual-Champion Hurdle hero Buveur D'Air, who may have an option at Sandown this month but is perhaps more likely for Punchestown's Champion Stayers Hurdle on April 28.

Read more:

Energumene powers to Champion Chase glory after favourite Shishkin is pulled up

'This was purely ground-related' – Nicky Henderson reacts to shock Shishkin flop

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