WITH a month to go before the Cheltenham Festival, Saturday racing still keeps up a high standard with some cracking national hunt cards at Ascot, Haydock Park and Wincanton. At the Berkshire venue the feature race of the day is the Grade One Ascot Chase at 3.35, and with the ground currently riding good I would anticipate that First Flow may not fulfil his acceptance which would take us down to five, but quality still remains the overriding factor.

But the overriding key to this 2m5f event is whether Shishkin retains all of his ability and is able to see out the extra yardage.

At first glance is seems that the Clarence House Chase 12 months ago could well have torn the heart out of him, a view further cemented by his pulled up effort in the Champion Stakes (ground excuses) and then followed by a lacklustre return in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park. Another poor effort here could well see him consigned to the land a green field, but a bounce back will almost certainly see Henderson’s charge become the new favourite for the Grade 1 race at the forthcoming Prestbury Park festival.