‘What can I say?’: Nicky Henderson left in shock by Shishkin’s refusal to run
Shishkin stunned onlookers at Ascot when refusing to start in the Nirvana Spa 1965 Chase, which went the way of Paul Nicholls’ Pic D’Orhy.
Nicky Henderson’s top-class chaser was returning to action in the Grade Two contest, which attracted only four runners. Nico de Boinville was partnering the gelding, who was the short-priced favourite, but at the tapes he did not budge and the race went ahead without him.
In Shishkin’s shock absence, the Paul Nicholls-trained Pic D’Orhy and Minella Drama shared the lead in the early stages as Straw Fan Jack followed, with the latter becoming the danger when Minella Drama faded.
Pic D’Orhy and Straw Fan Jack briefly locked horns, but Harry Coben’s mount pulled away when asked for a 16-length success at 5-2.
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“What can I say?” said a dejected Henderson, who will now desperately search for an opportunity before the King George at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
“At the moment I can’t think of all of the programme and the pity is there is a three-mile hurdle at Newbury on Friday and I would run him that, but it closed this morning. Did I know this would happen?
“I don’t know why he did that today, it’s one of those starts where you are going away from home [stables] and the odd horse will do it. My biggest concern would be the King George start would be exactly the same. How could I guarantee he wouldn’t do the same thing again?”
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Royal Pagaille edges out Bravemansgame at Haydock
Royale Pagaille, a course specialist with only one win to his name elsewhere in Britain, took his record at Haydock Park to four wins from five starts with a surprise success in the Grade One Betfair Chase on Saturday, beating Bravemansgame, last year’s King George winner , into second place after taking the lead with four fences to jump.
Bravemansgame and Protektorat, last year’s winner, vied for the lead through the first two miles but Protektorat soon dropped away tamely as Royale Pagaille came through to join Bravemansgame on the turn for home.
Charlie Deutsch pushed the 5-1 chance into a narrow lead soon afterwards and while Daryl Jacob, on the runner-up and favourite, appeared to be travelling just as well as the winner with three to jump, he could not close the gap and Royale Pagaille held him off all the way to the line.