Talking Horses: Fakir D’Oudairies can put Shishkin in the shade at Ascot

W hen Shishkin extended his winning streak over jumps to 10 races with a memorable defeat of Energumene in the Clarence House Chase 13 months ago, Nicky Henderson’s gelding seemed poised to dominate the two-mile chase division for several seasons to come.

Two lacklustre runs later, Shishkin has something to prove as he steps up to two and a-half miles for the first time over fences in Saturday’s Grade One Betfair Ascot Chase. It was just about possible to blame the soft ground when he was pulled up in the Champion Chase in March, but he was not travelling like a winner at any stage either there, or behind Edwardstone in the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December.

Shishkin has had a wind operation since his latest outing but it is still hard to see him as any kind of a betting proposition until he shows some hint of his earlier, dominant form. He also faces a formidable and consistent opponent on Saturday in Fakir D’Oudairies (3.35). Joseph O’Brien’s chaser has already proved his Grade One-winning credentials at two-and-a-half miles and was an impressive victor on good ground at Aintree in April.

Lingfield Park 1.03 Ower Starlight 1.38 Floating Spirit 2.13 Daphne May 2.48 Aramis Grey 3.23 Epsom Faithfull 3.58 Crystal Delight 4.33 Emperor Zen

Ascot 1.20 Attacca 1.50 Bold Endeavour 2.25 Revels Hill 3.00 Whizz Kid (nap) 3.35 Fakir D’Oudairies 4.10 Apple Rock 4.45 Our Nel

Haydock Park 1.30 Afadil 2.05 Erne River 2.40 Tim Pat (nb) 3.18 The Changing Man 3.50 Golden Whisky  4.25 Collectors Item 5.00 Bennys King 

Wincanton 1.57 What A Steal 2.32 Kauto The King 3.12 Knappers Hill 3.42 Ede’iffs Elton 4.17 Forever William 4.50 Ballinslea Bridge 5.20 Hard Frost

Newcastle 4.55 Russian Virtue 5.30 Magicdollar 6.00 Chief’s Will 6.30 Quee