Shishkin quashed all worries about his well-being when running out a hugely impressive winner of the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park.
Making a later than expected return to action, after eight months out, Nicky Henderson's seven-year-old stamped a huge claim to be crowned the best two-mile chaser in training.
Henderson had wanted to run his stable star in Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, but in the week leading up to that the Seven Barrows trainer felt the Arkle winner needed a bit longer to get up to full speed.
Yet again Henderson’s judgement proved spot on, and while he was given a late scare by the Kempton ground turning testing, he had a smile from ear to ear after the race.
It was far from a penalty kick for Shishkin on paper, with Tingle Creek hero Greaneteen in the field as well as Grand Annual winner Sky Pirate.
And while Shishkin did briefly need to be pushed along by Nico de Boinville just before the turn into the straight, he soon came back on the bridle.
Bryony Frost made her bid on Greaneteen – but Shishkin breezed past the multiple Grade One winner as if he was stood still, albeit in receipt of 3lb.
De Boinville kept the 4-9 favourite up to his work between the last two fences and he powered away to win by 10 lengths.
Coral make Shishkin their 5-4 favourite (from 7-4) for the Champion Chase, with Betfair a fraction bigger at 6-4.
⭐️ Shishkin - a winning return at @kemptonparkrace for @sevenbarrows & @NdeBoinville
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 27, 2021
🏇 11 races
🥇 10 wins
🏆 G1 Arkle
🏆 G1 Maghull Novices' Chase
🏆 G1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle
🏆 G2 Desert Orchid Chase
✅ Unbeaten over fences
👊 Good to see you champ pic.twitter.com/8ahdYae1BL
Henderson said: "It is a relief, but it's more than that – I am genuinely thrilled with him.
"I was nervous we weren’t really there, but we had to come out. When I looked at the ground yesterday I thought 'should we come out and wait for the Clarence House’. Now it’s over and it’s great to see him back.
"He was in a bad place for three weeks, which is why he didn’t run in the Tingle Creek. Then his trachea wash backed it up – that he was wrong. It wasn’t the most popular decision, but it was the right decision.
"We’ve just got back in time for this. The temptation was to wait for the Clarence House as it gave us another couple of weeks, but I was pretty keen to get out here and get a run into him.
"He’s not flashy at home, but Nico came in three or four times last week and said he felt good and he’s got to be the judge.
"It’s great that it’s over as he’s proved one thing – he’s as good as ever, he still is what he promised to be. Class is everything and the way he crosses fences is extraordinary."
On future plans, he added: "I’d like to have another run (before Cheltenham). The trouble is the Clarence House comes up quickly and the Game Spirit comes quite close to Cheltenham and you probably haven’t got a lot in between.
"He didn’t run in the Tingle Creek because he was all wrong – he was as flat as a pancake. I had no worries about missing Sandown at all – he wasn’t right and the horse comes first.
"If I’d run him in the Tingle Creek I’d have wrecked him, but as you can see he’s back now and we can push on and go forward and look forward to what’s in front of us."
Edwardstone ran out a most impressive winner of the Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices' Chase, cementing his position in the betting for the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham in March.
A Grade One winner last time out at Sandown, Alan King’s charge was dropping down in class for this contest at Grade Two level – and as a result was giving away 5lb to his three rivals.
Bryony Frost sent Solo into an early lead and with some fluent jumping tried to stretch the field out.
Edwardstone made a bit of a hash of the first fence, but was soon back on an even keel for Tom Cannon and adopting his usual stalking role at the rear.
As Solo began to weaken, Do Your Job hit the front seemingly full of running with Edwardstone in behind.
But as he had at Sandown, Edwardstone once again displayed a taking turn of foot and in a matter of strides the race was over.
He flew the last and the 8-15 favourite was ridden out to come home a 10-length winner.
Iceo made an impressive British debut for Paul Nicholls in the Ladbrokes We Play Together Introductory Juvenile Hurdle.
A winner on his only previous start in France during the summer, the son of Coastal Path was the 9-4 favourite to follow up in the hands of Bryony Frost.
Iceo raced keenly from the start, but had plenty left to give from the home turn and ultimately left his rivals trailing in his wake. Rewired was 17 lengths behind in second.
Emmpressive Lady (3-1 joint-favourite) went one better than last year in the Play Ladbrokes 5-A-Side On Football Mares' Handicap Hurdle.
Runner-up to the smart Molly Ollys Wishes 12 months ago, Sue Gardner’s charge made no mistake under Sean Houlihan – passing the post with five and a half lengths in hand over Tequila Blaze.
Five Star Getaway got back on the winning trail in the Play Ladbrokes 1-2-Free On Football Handicap Chase.
The 12-1 shot was one of three runners for trainer Christian Williams along with the fourth-placed Kitty’s Light and the eighth home Cap Du Nord.
Five Star Getaway won three times last season – and while he was well beaten on his return to action at Chepstow in October, Nick Scholfield’s mount raised his game to claim this £50,000 contest by a length from Fortescue.
