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Nicky Henderson has paid an emotional tribute to Shishkin following his untimely death from an injury sustained in his stable.
The gelding’s star began to rise during his hurdling career, which culminated with victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020.
He then became an instant success as a chaser, collecting seven consecutive wins including the Arkell, Maghul and Desert Orchid Chase, as well as a memorable Clarence House win after an Ascot duel with Energumen.
Adding to his late hurdles form that winning streak that ran to 10 races eventually came to an end but the gelding still showed flashes of absolute brilliance.
He won the Ascot Chase by 16 lengths last year and won the Bowl at Aintree when he stepped on the trip, and despite being denied a run after returning to the previous track for the 1965 Chase, he was seen as a likely winner of the King George VI Chase. Before stumbling into a run at his mercy on Boxing Day.
His final success came in the Denman Chase at Newbury in February, after his Cheltenham Gold Cup bid was thwarted by a poor scope and he chased Jerry Colombe home to finish fourth at Aintree earlier this month.
Shishkin in full flight in Denman Chase
Shishkin was due to run in Wednesday’s Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup, but suffered a broken hind leg after being boxed in on Sunday and could not be saved.
“It’s horrible to be honest with you, they don’t deserve it,” Henderson said. Sky Sports Racing. “There was nothing we could do, we had an army of vets and the best people in the world but they couldn’t fix it, I’m afraid.
“It’s just a tragedy, but everyone is quite remarkable and you have to appreciate how popular a horse can be.”
Henderson nominated his 12-length win over Arkell as a particular highlight, while Shishkin rated his epic battle with Energumen as the pinnacle of his career.
He said: “He won six Grade Ones, it should have been seven, because he really should have won the King George and I believe he would have done it.
“One of his best days was when he won the Arkle at Cheltenham, he was fantastic, but that match with Energumen at Ascot at Clarence House was probably his greatest race because he had to fight so hard that day.
“We’re ready for Cheltenham and he couldn’t get there, we’re really looking forward to Punchestown and he’s leaving this morning.
“He was a lovely horse, at the start of the season we sent him to Zara Tindall to do some dressage to entertain him and they adored him there too – he could do anything.
“He was beautiful, he was a very gentle man – he was very kind.”
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