Nick Alexander is holding his fingers crossed that Shishkin strains up at Newcastle on Saturday to provide him the very best probability of bagging a second victory within the BetMGM Rehearsal Chase with Elvis Mail.
The Kinneston handler saddled steady stalwart Lake View Lad to land the distinguished handicap 5 years in the past and has excessive hopes for his newest candidate, who made a profitable begin to his marketing campaign when notching a fifth Kelso win in final month’s Edinburgh Gin Chase.
What complicates issues barely when it comes to this weekend’s race is the presence of Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin, who might make a swift reappearance underneath the welter burden of 12 stone after refusing to race in final Saturday’s 1965 Chase at Ascot.
If Shishkin does take his probability, Elvis Mail will carry simply 10st 1lb, but when Henderson decides towards sending his a number of Grade One winner to the North East, the weights will rise significantly, and it’s not inconceivable that Elvis Mail himself might but find yourself carrying top-weight.
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Coach Nicky Henderson was left questioning the place to go subsequent after Shishkin’s refusal to start out within the 1965 Chase at Ascot
“I’d love him to be running with 10st 1lb on his back. He’s well and ready to run again and he’d certainly be running if that was the case,” Alexander stated.
“If the top-weight would not run and the following two (Ga Legislation and Datsalrightgino) had been to run at Newbury and he was to finish up with top-weight, then I would not make certain.
“He’ll probably run anyway. He won very nicely at Kelso, we were delighted with him and he’s been great since, so fingers crossed he’s still great on Saturday.”
Elvis Mail has gained eight races in his profession thus far, together with his 5 Kelso triumphs supplemented by a trio of wins at Ayr.
Alexander feels the character of Gosforth Park ought to swimsuit his cost simply effective, including: “He likes a galloping observe and has run properly at Doncaster.
“He doesn’t want holding ground, so he could do with them getting a snow shower or something, just to keep it on the wetter side. He likes decent ground as well, so he should be fine.
“I am very a lot wanting ahead to operating him.”
Watch all of the motion from Newcastle on Saturday reside on Sky Sports activities Racing with the Rehearsal Chase at 3.05pm.
