Graded race double for Cheltenham Sales Graduates

All eyes were on SHISHKIN on Saturday at Doncaster who put his unbeaten record over fences on the line in the Grade 2 Lightning Novices’ Chase and the son of SHOLOKHOV did not disappoint.

He put in an immaculate round of jumping in the hands of Nico de Boinville and powered clear up the home straight to leave his rivals toiling. This performance cemented his place at the head of the ante post market for the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. The winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year, he clearly possesses super star quality and has to rate as one of the most exciting jumps horses currently in training.

He was sold by Virginia Considine to Highflyer Bloodstock for £170,000 at the 2018 Cheltenham December Sale. Prior to that he was purchased by Considine’s for €28,000 at the 2017 Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale.

On Sunday at Naas EKLAT DE RIRE went from pillar to post and jumped his rivals silly to win the Grade 3 Novice Chase on the card for Henry De Bromhead. He rates a contender for the RSA Chase at this year’s Festival on the back of this. The son of SADDEX was sold by Liz Doyle for £110,000 to Alex Elliott at the 2019 Cheltenham November Sale.