Timeform have awarded Shishkin a provisional rating of 181p in the wake of his thrilling victory over Energumene in Saturday's SBK Clarence House at Ascot, making him the firm’s top-rated jumper currently in training - and taking him beyond Altior's peak career-rating.
Timeform’s Chase Handicapper Phil Turner said: “It was a terrific race, both in terms of excitement and level of form. Last year’s winner First Flow arrived here on the back of a career-best effort, so the fact that the big two could pull so far clear of him in the latter stages says plenty for what they achieved - a view which is fully backed up by the stopwatch.
“It usually takes a top-notch rival to push a horse beyond the 180 ratings barrier and that was certainly the case with Nicky Henderson’s two recent two-mile chasing superstars. Sprinter Sacre, for example, was chased home by Cue Card (twice) and Sizing Europe on the three times he bettered that lofty figure, whilst the stopwatch king Min was runner-up on the sole occasion when Altior ran to that level.
"It reflects well on Energumene, therefore, that he could push Shishkin much closer than any of those illustrious names did to either Sprinter Sacre or Altior and he enhanced his own reputation today despite meeting defeat.
“That said, Shishkin arguably deserves extra credit given he was always on the back foot after an unlucky peck around halfway so there could be even better to come from him. Indeed, Cheltenham’s Old Course is likely to play to his strengths more than Energumene – particularly the extended stretch between three out and two out – and we’d expect him to confirm the placings in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Let’s just hope they both turn up there in the same sort of form!”
