Supreme Favourite Shishkin Faces Four In The Sidney Banks

Current Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite Shishkin returns to action in the Listed Betway Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon tomorrow – where he faces four rivals.

Nicky Henderson’s Sholokhov gelding arrives at Huntingdon on the back of an impressive Newbury success, which immediately catapulted him towards the head of the market for the Supreme – test your knowledge of the festival-opener on our Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Quiz.

Running in the Joe Donnelly silks – which have become synonymous with reigning Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo – Shishkin steps up to an extended 2m3f tomorrow for the first time under rules.

A third foal out of winning point to pointer Labarynth – who is herself a half-sister to the top-class staying hurdler Voler La Vedette – his pedigree suggests that the extra yardage should, if anything, be a plus for his chances.

His main opposition is likely to come from the Jamie Snowden-trained Pacify, who won his first five starts over hurdles prior to occupying the runner-up berth behind Hang In There – who reopposes – in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in November.

With a five-pound weight swing in their favour, connections of Pacify will fancy their chances of reversing that form. The field is made up by Dan Skelton’s Shan Blue and likely market outsider Up The Straight.

Should Nico de Boinville’s mount enhance his already lofty reputation with another victory tomorrow, it will confirm the owner’s strong hand in the novice hurdle division – with their black and yellow checked colours recently seen to victory aboard the impressive Willie Mullins duo Asterion Forlonge and The Big Getaway.