Shishkin has been described as a “nice buddy and warrior” through teacher Nicky Henderson following his surprise loss of life simply days earlier than he was once because of line up within the Punchestown Gold Cup.
The twin Cheltenham Competition winner fractured his hind leg after being forged in his field on Sunday night time, Henderson reported in a submit on X.
The surprise information comes 3 days earlier than he was once set to tackle Galopin Des Champs in a juggernaut conflict on the Punchestown competition.
Henderson’s submit on Sunday night time learn: “Tragically we’ve misplaced Shishkin this night time after he were given forged in his strong and fractured his hind leg.
“Everybody concerned with Seven Barrows, in particular his house owners, Joe and Marie Donnelly, Jaydon [Lee, Shishkin’s groom], Nico [de Boinville] and George [Daly, Henderson’s assistant] are patently devastated that this kind of nice horse, buddy and warrior has long past.
“He was once because of depart for Punchestown the following day morning however unfortunately that is now to not be. He was once an absolute celebrity and his CV is testomony to that – with the exception of the King George isn’t in it although we consider it will have to had been.
“The Best Newcomers’ Hurdle and the Arkle have been his Cheltenham highlights, however the struggle with Energumene within the Clarence Area at Ascot was once more than likely his biggest.
“It is a very unhappy night time. He was once our megastar and we will be able to by no means disregard him. Thanks Shishkin for the glorious recollections.”
Shishkin briefly established himself as a high-class performer for the six-time champion teacher, overcoming a afflicted passage to win the 2020 Best Newcomers’ Hurdle on the Cheltenham Competition. He improved right into a best two-mile newbie chaser the next season, successful 3 begins simply earlier than thumping his opponents within the Arkle on his go back to Cheltenham.
His biggest efficiency, which earned him a Racing Publish Score of 179, got here when popping out on best in an epic struggle with Energumene, the opposite best two-mile chaser of the time, within the 2022 Clarence Area Chase at Ascot. However he was once pulled up within the rematch within the Champion Chase on the Cheltenham Competition two months later, and was once discovered to had been affected by an extraordinary bone illness.
He was once overwhelmed on his comeback the next season within the Tingle Creek however flourished for a step up in shuttle when scooting transparent within the Ascot Chase through 16 lengths. A month later he completed a strong-staying 2nd within the Ryanair and gained the Aintree Bowl when attempted at 3 miles for the primary time.
His personality got here to the fore this season, which began with a refusal within the 1965 Chase at Ascot, whilst he was once unseated when in competition within the King George. He was once ready to bop again in Newbury’s Denman Chase however a luckless marketing campaign persevered as he ignored the Gold Cup when considered one of numerous big-name Henderson horses to be withdrawn from the Cheltenham Competition as a result of the deficient type of the strong.
A fourth-placed end within the Bowl at Aintree would end up to be his ultimate race. He gained 14 races from 21 begins, incomes £798,668.
Courtesy of Racing Publish