Racing review: Cheltenham markets react to Shishkin and Jonbon victories

Great horses don’t always create great races, but that certainly wasn’t the case on Saturday as Shishkin and Energumene - both high on the shortlist of the best two-mile chasers since the turn of the century - battled out a memorable and exhilarating edition of the SBK-sponsored Clarence House Chase at Ascot. 

For all the furore and chatter before the race, silence fell upon the 11,000-strong crowd as Irish challenger Energumene pinged the third-last fence and seemed to have Shishkin, who was previously unbeaten in ten completed starts, struggling in his wake. His authority didn’t shift at the second-last, or seemingly the last as he gained another length on his rival with a customary smooth leap. But then the champion engaged top gear.

Shishkin is yet to disappoint - tenacity and consistency go hand-in-hand when it comes to elite equine performers - and the desire for an 11th career success and assured stamina over the trip allowed Nicky Henderson’s runner to rally from three lengths behind, up alongside Energumene, and straight on by. I haven’t seen such a raucous, emotional and joyous reaction from the horse racing public away from the Cheltenham festival in my lifetime. 

Take nothing away from Energumene, or indeed Willie Mullins for sending him over and not shirking the long-awaited battle, but Shishkin was the big winner on Saturday. Not only did he enhance his relationship with fans of the sport, but he also proved that he is the best around in the two-mile chasing division. He was instantly shortened into an odds-on favourite for the Champion Chase as a result, with Smarkets offering a best-priced 1.95 about the Clarence House winner confirming the form at Cheltenham in March.

The Cheltenham hill takes no prisoners and the way that Shishkin finished on Saturday suggests that, providing he comes out of Ascot in rip-roaring form, he will be extremely tough to hold in the Champion Chase if he is within firing range over the last fence. Energumene, who is available at 4.1, may need to relish on Shishkin underperforming. We are yet to see that happen.

Supreme picture muddied by workmanlike Jonbon

Away from a phenomenal Ascot card, which also featured a Dan Skelton-trained treble courtesy of victories for Doctor Parnassus, Unexpected Party and Molly Ollys Wishes, Jonbon was the star attraction in the Grade 2 Supreme trial at Haydock. I’m sure Henderson had his eyes firmly fixed on the television screen in his Ascot box at around 1.25pm.

Let's get the result out of the way first: Jonbon won. Those who weren’t able to watch the exciting six-year-old claim his first graded victory probably envisaged a smooth success, but he briefly looked in trouble before jumping the final hurdle and failure to switch leads led to him drifting across rivals Richmond Lake and Might I. Once he changed legs, he impressively moved clear.

The fact of the matter is that Aidan Coleman had to ask Jonbon to go about his job and the response wasn’t imminent, which leads to the question: How about running him in the Ballymore? Henderson is already represented by scintillating Tolworth winner Constitution Hill in the Supreme (3.2) and taking him on with Jonbon (5.6) may prove foolish. Especially when you could win both races.

Jonbon, who won a three-mile point-to-point before being bought for £570,000, is currently available at 32 for the Ballymore and would be a leading player in the longer novice contest if connections reroute him.