Ratings Update: Shishkin shines on his way to the Festival

It was a quiet Saturday for fans of jumps racing, with Doncaster the only meeting to survive the wet weather that claimed Cheltenham's Festival Trials Day card.

The presence of Shishkin on Town Moor ensured that it was a case of quality over quantity, however, and the odds-on favourite for the Sporting Life Arkle had no problem extending his unbeaten record over fences to three with an emphatic eight-and-a-half-length success in the Lightning Novices' Chase.

Shishkin (remains on 165P) did not need to improve on the form he had shown on his previous outing, but that says more about the exceptional level he achieved in the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton. This was another impressive victory in a fast time, adding to the growing body of evidence that suggests Shishkin is something special and another top-notch two-miler for Nicky Henderson.

Last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner is 8/11 to add another Cheltenham Festival success in the Sporting Life Arkle. He has already run to a level good enough to win an average edition, though this year's race has the makings of an exceptional renewal as Energumene (160p) has also looked like an excellent prospect for Willie Mullins. 

Shishkin remains unbeaten over fences as he takes the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Lightning Novices' Chase at @DoncasterRaces #ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/nr8DtLQMbR

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) January 30, 2021

There was a thrilling finish to the big betting race on the card, the Sky Bet Chase, though the result would not have been popular with most punters as 40/1 shot Takingrisks (151 from 145) gamely stayed on to prevail by a length and a quarter at the chief expense of Aye Right and Cap du Nord.

Takingrisks may be a 12-year-old but this looks like a strong piece of form and represents a career-best effort from the veteran. He has been a remarkable servant for connections and this was the third valuable pot he has landed at a big price following shock wins in the 2019 Scottish National (25/1) and 2019 Rehearsal Chase (20/1).

Ladbrokes Trophy runner-up Aye Right (155 from 152) again found one too strong, but he gave another cracking account of himself, jumping well and travelling with enthusiasm at the head of affairs, only edged out in the final 50 yards. His rider dropped his whip, but it's unlikely to have made a difference as the likeable Aye Right was giving his all on the run-in. The Scottish National appeals as a suitable long-term target.

Aye Right is very much a flagbearer for Harriet Graham's small stable and The Late Legend (119 from 115) is fulfilling a similar role for Tom Weston. The Late Legend has been one of the success stories of the season and made it five wins for the campaign at Doncaster on Saturday when landing a three-mile handicap chase. He was always holding off the in-form Special Acceptance, with the pair 15 lengths clear of the remainder, and he should continue to give a good account.

Miranda (remains on 140) readily got the better of Floressa in the Grade 2 Mares' Hurdle, asserting after the last having been given a confident ride by Harry Cobden. Distant third Marie's Rock (137 from 143p) was the big disappointment of the race and, having also failed to meet expectations on her return at Newbury, there's a danger she's not going to fulfil the promise she showed last season.

The three-mile Grade 2 novice hurdle offered a stern test of stamina which proved too much for most of the field – only six of the 12 runners finished and they did so at wide intervals.

The Cob (132 from 124) clearly handled the test well and he ran out an easy nine-length winner. He had disappointed at Newbury on his previous outing, but it's possible he was feeling the effects of a hard race at Haydock the time before, and his profile is otherwise positive.

The Cob needs to be supplemented for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle but should not be readily dismissed if connections opt to do so. He has achieved a similar level as the market principals in what is an extremely open renewal, and will relish a slog more than most.

There were also Cheltenham Festival clues on offer at Naas on Sunday. Eklat de Rire (150p from 140p) entered the picture for the Festival Novices' Chase with a smooth success in a strong Grade 3, beating the unexposed Escaria Ten by a length and three-quarters under a hands-and-heels ride, the pair pulling six and a half lengths clear of Pencilfulloflead, who was carrying an 8 lb penalty.

As is often the case for horses hailing from the Henry de Bromhead yard, Eklat de Rire is an accomplished jumper and he put in a sure-footed round on just his second start over fences. His rating of 150p puts him just 5 lb behind red-hot favourite Monkfish, so he is fully entitled to have a crack at the Festival Novices' Chase, for which he was cut to 14/1 (from 33/1).

Eklat De Rire remains unbeaten over fences, landing Grade 3 honours for @HenrydeBromhead and @rachaelblackmor at @NaasRacecourse.

And look at that recovery from Kevin Brouder at the last - absolutely unreal! 😲 pic.twitter.com/2RRJHoVyS5

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 31, 2021

It was a good afternoon for De Bromhead, whose Mr Incredible (132p from 125p) got the better of a lengthy battle with the runner-up, providing a boost to the form of Gaillard du Mesnil who had beaten him by nine and a half lengths at Leopardstown.

Ballymore fancy Gaillard du Mesnil is trained by Willie Mullins, whose Billaway (135p) put the finishing touches to his Cheltenham preparation by winning the hunters chase at Naas for the second year in succession. He finished runner-up at the Festival last season and is favourite to go one better this term, though he will need to brush up on his jumping. Sunday was the second time from just three starts this season that he was given the 'x' in-play symbol by Timeform's reporter, denoting that he made mistakes.

The main action of note earlier in the week came in Ireland. Coko Beach (148 from 133) led home a one-two for Gordon Elliott in the valuable Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park on Thursday, beating stablemate Run Wild Fred by four lengths having impressed with how strongly he moved through the contest. The application of blinkers seemed to have a positive effect and, given how well he stuck to his task in attritional conditions, he should be well suited by the test the National Hunt Chase provides.

Sams Profile (150 from 143) has been lightly raced since developing into one of the leading novice hurdlers in the 2018/19 season, but he could yet have a say at the highest level based on his win in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran. Sams Profile, who was reverting to hurdling after a couple of starts over fences, was all out to fend off Diol Ker (150 from 140) but he doesn't have many miles on the clock and proved suited by the step up to three miles, so isn't one to quickly dismiss in the Stayers' Hurdle, for all the likes of Paisley Park (159) and Thyme Hill (157) will offer a sterner examination.

There were a couple of Grade 2s on the rescheduled card at Thurles on Wednesday, including the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase, which has been a pointer to the Cheltenham Festival in the past, won by the likes of Don Cossack and Sizing John under its former guise as the Kinloch Brae. 

This year's edition was won in good style by Allaho (164p from 164), who was cut to 6/1 second favourite for the Ryanair Chase, placing him behind only last year's winner - and stablemate - Min in the market. Allaho had found less than had looked likely in the Savills Chase over three miles, and he benefited from the return to two and a half miles at Thurles, running his rivals ragged with a powerful display from the front. He is rated 10 lb behind Min, but should have more to offer over this intermediate trip and is likely to be on the premises in the Ryanair. He was chased home by Elimay (155 from 143p), who produced a clear career-best effort to get within three lengths of her classy stablemate while pulling well clear of the remainder. She was cut to favourite for the Mares' Chase and has strong claims on this form, though Mullins could also turn to Benie des Dieux (151p) and Colreevy (147p).

Does Allaho have what it takes to triumph in the Ryanair?

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 28, 2021

Colreevy won a Grade 2 earlier on the Thurles card, running to a similar level as when beating Pencilfulloflead in a Grade 1 at Limerick over Christmas. She completed the course and distance in a slower time than Allaho and Elimay, though she was unextended to win by 12 lengths and has a bigger effort in her locker. She too is a leading contender for the Mares' Chase.