Shishkin bounced back to form at Newbury to take the Betfair Denman Chase for Nicky Henderson.
The 10-year-old had endured a luckless campaign so far, refusing to start in the 1965 Chase at Ascot on his seasonal bow in November before unseating Nico de Boinville when going well in the King George VI Chase at Kempton at Christmas.
He was the 8-11 favourite to return to winning ways in the Newbury Grade Two and travelled behind race leader Protektorat for much of the near three-mile contest.
Around the final bend, Shishkin began to pick up the bridle and was comfortably able to stride clear of his four rivals to prevail by four and a quarter lengths.
Henderson admitted he had concerns about running on heavy ground before the race, but was relieved to see the decision to compete pay off.
🏆 The @Betfair Denman Chase 🏆
— Newbury Racecourse (@NewburyRacing) February 10, 2024
🥇 Shishkin
🥈 Hitman
🥉 Protektorat
Shishkin takes the Denman for @sevenbarrows under @NdeBoinville 💪 pic.twitter.com/NkKUHZ8EJM
He said: "The ground wasn't anything like I thought it would be.
"I was rather hesitant but he had to run, but the ground wasn’t that bad and Newbury have done a great job.
"That is actually his first completed run since Aintree last year, he had a good blow there and Nico thought it would do him a lot of good and it will actually do us all a lot of good.
"He’s jumped very well and probably missed one, otherwise he jumped great. He just needed it more than anything else and we had to do it regardless of conditions."
All roads now lead to the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
"I think we have to [go to the Gold Cup] because there is nowhere else to go," continued Henderson.
"You could wait for Aintree, but no, that’s where we are and that’s what he is.
"I don’t think three and a quarter is going to frighten him and hopefully we have the starting bug out of our head, he was faultless there – even better than he was at Kempton.
"He was perfect there and we’re in control of him now. He’s behaving our way, not his. He’s like that, he’s a good character. Ascot was probably his fault but Kempton certainly wasn’t, unless you go and kick yourself in the leg on purpose.
"I went to Ireland to see how Willie’s [Mullins] horses were getting on last weekend and Shishkin has a chance – of course he has. I don’t see any point in not running and he can’t come back to two and a half because he’s not in it [Ryanair Chase] anyway.
"You have to be impressed with Galopin Des Champs, but after that I think there is an opening and the Gold Cup is the Gold Cup – you have got to give it a go.
"It looked like he was going to win the King George and that would have put him in the picture. But he’s won today and that definitely puts him in the picture – let’s go!"
Edwardstone cruised to victory in the Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase.
The 11-10 favourite under Tom Cannon, Alan King's gelding made all of the running in the four-runner Grade Two.
His significant lead looked to lessen slightly with half of the race completed, but the gap soon widened again and was further increased when Boothill fell in the home straight.
Amarillo Sky did not finish either, leaving Funambule Sivola to trail home as the only other finisher some 40 lengths behind.
King said: "It's been the plan for some time to make the running. I thought after Kempton when we disappointed him over two and a half and kept bringing him back, we would come here and pop out and try that.
"He was racing within himself and I think Tom was happy and able to get a breather in coming to cross-fence and away he went again. It has given me an awful lot of satisfaction."
Edwardstone was notching his first victory since landing the 2022 Tingle Creek Chase and now heads for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
King said: "Jonbon and El Fabiolo are the main horses but I think we will be taking them on – I certainly won’t be going to the Ryanair.
"As long as he comes out of this all right, he will go for the Queen Mother and I have huge respect for both Jonbon and El Fabiolo. Jonbon has beaten us twice this season and Willie’s horse looked awfully good last week.
"It’s exciting and I think we’re in the mix now, hopefully. Those tactics worked today but might not be the thing to do at Cheltenham, but we will worry about that nearer the time."
King credited a return to ways of the past for the upturn in Edwardstone’s fortunes.
The Barbury Castle handler explained that his string were now working three times up the hill at home, a return to the schedule the likes of Voy Por Ustedes and My Way De Solzen would adhere to prior to big-race assignments.
King added: "I think it’s the best mine have been all season. I was lying there on holiday a few weeks ago after a few of mine hadn’t been running terribly well and I was thinking 'what the hell is wrong'.
"I know I haven’t got the firepower I used to have, but bad horses used to win and that wasn’t happening.
"We’ve only been doing two and we trained plenty of winners doing two up the hill, but not as many as we used to and a lot of horses were finishing second and I just felt that from the back of the last, they weren’t finishing the way they used to.
"I’ve gone back to the old routine of three times up the hill on a work morning and we’ve just got them that bit fitter I think – we’ve drilled these horses the last few weeks. It’s how I used to do it. Voy Por and My Way all used to do three.
"I think the results are speaking for themselves. Let’s hope it continues."
