Shishkin storms to victory at Huntingdon

Shishkin was the headline act on Huntingdon's card on Thursday and the six year old didn't disappoint with another impressive win in the Listed Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle. Nicky Henderson's charge had won by eleven lengths on his jumping bow at Newbury last month scoring by eleven lengths over the minimum trip. Stepping up in distance at the Cambridgeshire track, he won by the same margin with some useful types trailing in his wake. Jumping fluently throughout, Nico De Boinville's mount always looked in charge as he sauntered clear after the final flight. The Sholokhov gelding looked every inch a Cheltenham Festival horse and it will take a very good one to beat him in the Skybet Supreme Novices' Hurdle on the 10th March. He jumps well, travels strongly and has a turn of foot, plus he has the ability to stay further, too. 

It was a good day all round for One Jump Ahead and Update subscribers. French Dynamite (5/1) supplied Declan Phelan's Irish Pointers with yet another winner in the two and a half miles novice hurdle at Thurles. Mouse Morris' five year old, who won at the same track over two miles earlier in the campaign, was fitted with cheekpieces for the first time and he stayed on strongly to beat the useful The Bosses Oscar by two and a half lengths with the pair clear.

Zoffee (10/11) and Buzz (13/8) were both highlighted as horses to follow in the November Update and the pair won at Doncaster on Thursday. The former had finished second on his first couple of races over hurdles but Philip Hobbs' four year old made no mistake at Town Moor with an eleven lengths victory. It will be interesting to see if he is given an entry in the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham. The latter was a smart stayer on the level for Hughie Morrison (rated 96) before being bought for 80,000gns at the Newmarket Autumn Horses in Training Sale. Successful on his hurdles debut at Taunton (beat subsequent Grade 2 winner Galahad Quest), the six year old defied his penalty with a narrow win from the well regarded Glory And Fortune. He is an interesting dual purpose prospect.